The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) announced a temporary gas supply shortfall affecting power generation companies from February 12 to February 15, 2026 due to routine maintenance by its joint venture partner, Seplat Energy Plc. The announcement was issued in an official statement by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh.
NNPC’s disclosure makes clear that scheduled work on critical gas infrastructure will reduce the volume of gas delivered into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network. This network supplies gas to several thermal power plants that underpin most of Nigeria’s electricity generation.
“The public is hereby informed that Seplat Energy Plc, a Joint Venture partner of NNPC Ltd and a key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited pipeline network, has scheduled routine maintenance on its gas production facilities from 12th to 15th February 2026.”
NNPC emphasised that this planned activity is standard industry protocol to ensure safe and reliable operations of gas production and transportation systems. In its view, carrying out such maintenance strengthens asset integrity and reduces the risk of unplanned outages in the future.
“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.”
The company warned that during the four‑day maintenance window, gas supply into the NGIC network will fall, meaning that some power generation companies may receive lower than usual volumes of gas. This decrease in supply could modestly reduce electricity output across the national grid during the period.
“During the four‑day maintenance period, there will be a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network. 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.”
NNPC also stressed that its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, is engaging alternative gas suppliers to help mitigate the anticipated shortfall and limit disruptions to supply stability.
“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 expects that normal gas flows will resume once maintenance ends, allowing affected power plants to return to full operations soon after February 15, 2026.
Nigeria’s electricity system is heavily dependent on gas‑fired thermal power plants, which represent the backbone of on‑grid generation capacity. Even a modest reduction in gas delivery can force operators to reduce output, affecting system balance and potentially causing periods of reduced power availability.
While NNPC frames this maintenance as a necessary step for long‑term reliability of gas infrastructure, short‑term consequences may include slight dips in electricity generation and operational adjustments by grid managers to maintain stability during the four‑day period.
In essence, the announcement signals a temporary operational disruption that comes with a clear commitment to asset integrity and future reliability, paired with efforts to manage and soften the near‑term impact on the power sector.
