I was gonna call it a new dawn but I realised that I already have a post titled that. It was about the Glo-1 underwater fibre cable. By way of update Glo is now advertising in the papers about the new Glo broad access service. It almost has to be internet services based on the bandwidth of the broadband cable. Fast internet here we come :D

Anyway today's topic is Power. This is the definition of generalization by anecdote, but I wanted to make sure this was out there before the bandwagon gets rolling :D.

So my generator packed up last week Saturday cos we weren't using it enough. Granted my battery was bad, but this is still memorable because it was lack of use that finally killed the damn thing. The reason for the lack of use was that PHCN was pretty much constant all through the week. True to that form, they brought back light about 30mins later.

Now I live very close to a main distribution substation which means that my light is better than most normally, but this was pretty unprecedented. The reason is that PHCN for the last week or so has been able to distribute about 3500MW of electricity. This has not been done for any sustainable length of time, especially in the dry season so this is a notable achievement. Granted it stacks very poorly against all their notable non-achievements but encouragement works yeah ;)

Now the improvement in generation is due in large part to the recent peace in the Niger Delta. The improvements to the transmission grid over the last year allowed the power to be sent across the nation, but it was the increased availability of gas that made the difference. So here is to hoping that the Niger Delta stays peaceful :D

So with gas availability no longer an issue (knock on wood) it is entirely possible that installed capacity will reach 6000MW. They say they are on 5000MW right now. Most people do not believe that the grid can take 6000MW before the end of the year, but it may be reasonable to assume that PHCN will get there early next year. When you factor in the 4000MW from the NIPP plants that should come in the power situation in Nigeria may start to get good even for people that don't live near the substation.

I now have another question. If Yar'Adua does succeed in doing both Niger Delta and Power would he have done enough to deserve reelection?