By Bassey Udo
Nigeria’s available power capacity received a massive boost recently with the ramping up of generation and supply of 160 megawatts (MW) from Sahara Group’s Afam 2 Power Plant in Rivers State.
The additional electricity generation capacity was injected into the national grid to help advance the nation’s energy reliability agenda.
Industry data from the Federal Ministry of Power show that the current available capacity of electricity in the country stands at about 4,264 MW as of September 25, 2025, with the highest generation level of about 5,801.84 MW attained on March 4, 2025 and transmission capacity through the national grid by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) at an average of 7,300 and 8,000 MW.
With the fresh capacity from Adam 2, the available electricity capacity could rise significantly to about 4,423MW.
Commissioned on June 5, 2025, the 180MW capacity Afam 2 Power Plant has continued to contribute significantly in meeting the nation’s energy supply needs.
“The plant’s performance reflects Sahara Group’s commitment to bringing energy to life responsibly, ensuring reliable power for homes, communities, and businesses nationwide,” Sahara Group said in a statement on Wednesday.
Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Dr. Kola Adesina, described the milestone by the company as an attestation to Sahara’s top-notch human capital and unwavering vision of lighting up Africa.
“It is noteworthy that this achievement was recorded with zero downtime incidents, reflecting the expertise and technical excellence of the team on ground. We are proud of the team and our collective achievement,” he said.
A subsidiary of Sahara Group, a global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Power Group is reputed to be a foremost private power business in Africa, with affiliates including Egbin Power Plc, largest privately run thermal plant in sub-Saharan Africa, Ikeja Electric Plc, biggest power distribution company in Nigeria and First Independent Power Limited, a leading generation company in Nigeria.
Adesina said the ramp-up to 160MW at Afam 2 was made possible by recent improvements in gas supply and ongoing infrastructure upgrades, enabling the plant to optimize its output capacity in line with national demand.
He noted that the plant would continue to play a pivotal role in Sahara Group’s broader strategy of delivering cleaner, more reliable energy solutions to support socio-economic growth.
The achievement, he pointed out, underscores Sahara Group’s alignment with the Federal Government’s energy transition and infrastructure development goals.
“Sahara Group is grateful for the collaboration and support from regulators, stakeholders, and host communities in our bid to drive inclusive energy access across Nigeria,” Adesina added
