The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has alerted the public that its joint venture partner, Seplat Energy Plc, will shut down its gas production facilities for routine maintenance from February 12 to February 15, 2026, leading to a temporary reduction in gas supply and a moderate impact on nationwide electricity generation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by NNPC Ltd Chief Corporate Communications Officer Andy Odeh, titled “Notice of Scheduled Maintenance on Major Gas Plant and Facilities,” the national oil company explained that the four-day shutdown is a mandatory, industry-standard procedure to ensure safety, asset integrity, and long-term reliability of critical gas infrastructure.
“Seplat Energy Plc, a Joint Venture partner of NNPC Ltd and a key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network, has scheduled routine maintenance on its gas production facilities from 12th to 15th February 2026,” the statement read.
“This planned activity forms part of standard industry safety and asset integrity protocols designed to ensure the continued reliability, efficiency, 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.”
During the maintenance window, gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network—which feeds several thermal power plants and industrial customers—will be temporarily reduced.
“As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe,” Odeh stated.
Nigeria’s power sector relies heavily on gas-fired plants, which account for more than 70 per cent of installed generation capacity. Most of these plants depend on the NGIC pipeline network and other gas transportation systems linking Niger Delta producers to generation hubs in the South-West and beyond.
Gas supply interruptions—whether from planned maintenance, vandalism, payment disputes, or technical issues—have historically caused generation shortfalls and forced load shedding.
To mitigate the impact, NNPC Ltd said it is taking proactive measures:
“NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy are working closely to ensure that the maintenance is executed safely and completed as scheduled. In parallel, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is engaging alternative gas suppliers to mitigate anticipated supply gaps and maintain stability across the network.”
The company assured that full gas supply to the NGIC system is expected to resume promptly once maintenance ends, allowing affected power plants to return to normal operations.
“Further updates will be provided as necessary,” the statement concluded.
The notice highlights the fragile link between upstream gas operations and electricity supply stability in Nigeria, where grid generation typically averages 4,000–5,000 MW despite much higher installed capacity. Even short disruptions can create ripple effects for distribution companies and end-users.
The maintenance aligns with ongoing efforts under the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative to boost domestic gas utilisation, though stakeholders continue to stress the need for greater redundancy, storage capacity, and diversified energy sources to reduce vulnerability to periodic supply constraints.
