The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced that Seplat Energy Plc will shut down its gas production facilities for four days for routine maintenance, a move expected to temporarily reduce gas supply to power plants and moderately affect electricity generation nationwide.
In a statement issued Thursday by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the maintenance is scheduled to run from February 12 to February 15, 2026. Seplat Energy, a joint venture partner of NNPC and a major supplier to the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline network, described the exercise as routine and mandatory.
NNPC said the work forms part of standard industry safety and asset integrity protocols aimed at ensuring the reliability and safe operation of critical gas infrastructure. “Periodic maintenance of this nature is essential to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and minimise the risk of unplanned outages,” the statement said.
During the maintenance window, gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network will be temporarily reduced. The network supplies several thermal power plants and industrial users across the country. As a result, some power generation companies may face reduced gas availability, leading to a modest decline in electricity output within the period.
Nigeria’s power sector relies heavily on gas-fired plants, which account for more than 70 percent of installed generation capacity. Many of these plants depend on feedstock delivered through the NGIC network and other pipelines linking upstream producers in the Niger Delta to generation hubs.
Gas supply disruptions—whether from maintenance, vandalism, or technical faults—have historically led to generation shortfalls and load management measures across the grid. Average electricity generation typically ranges between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, despite significantly higher installed capacity.
NNPC said it is working with Seplat to ensure the maintenance is completed safely and on schedule. It added that NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative suppliers to mitigate potential supply gaps and maintain network stability.
Full gas supply is expected to resume immediately after the maintenance period, allowing affected power plants to return to normal operations. The company said further updates would be provided if necessary.
The development highlights the continued link between upstream gas operations and electricity supply stability, even as the government pushes reforms in the power sector and advances its “Decade of Gas” initiative to boost domestic gas utilisation.
