The latest operational performance report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has shown that Nigeria’s grid-connected power plants operated at an average of 86 per cent of their available capacity in August 2026.

This was one of the major highlights of the NERC’s August 2026 factsheet report published on Thursday. The report showed that Nigeria’s power plants had an average available capacity of 4,758 megawatts (MW) during the month under review, while average hourly generation was pegged at 4,102MW.

According to the report, about 656MW of the available generation capacity was not utilised on average during the period.

Among the major energy producers, Kainji_1 recorded a 98 per cent load factor, generating 345MW out of 352MW available capacity, while Afam_2 recorded 99 per cent, with 262MW generated against 265MW available.

It said Egbin_1 operated at 96 per cent, generating 333MW from 347MW of available capacity, while Ihovbor_2 recorded 92 per cent, generating 418MW from 454MW of available capacity.

Other major plants listed included Delta_1 at 80 per cent load factor, Zungeru_1 at 72 per cent, Odukpani_1 at 74 per cent, Shiroro_1 at 87 per cent, Jebba_1 at 83 per cent, and Okpai_1 at 87 per cent.

Frequency, voltage stability breached limits

Despite the relatively high utilisation rate, NERC reported breaches of prescribed grid frequency and voltage limits during the month.

The commission said the average lower grid frequency was 49.34Hz, while the average upper grid frequency was 50.67Hz, exceeding the prescribed operating range of 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz.

Similarly, it noted that the monthly average lower grid voltage was recorded at 302.29 kilovolts (kV), while the average upper grid voltage stood at 349.68kV.

NERC said both figures exceeded the prescribed voltage range of 313.50kV to 346.50kV.

The data showed significant differences in plant utilisation.

Olorunsogo_1 recorded a 100 per cent load factor, generating 115MW from 115MW of available capacity. Omoku_1 and Igbafо_1 also recorded 100 per cent utilisation.

Omotosho_1 generated 148MW from 149MW available, representing a 99 per cent load factor, while Dadin-Kowa_1 recorded 98 per cent after generating 35MW from 36MW available.

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However, some plants recorded substantially lower utilisation. Afam_1 operated at 67 per cent, while Ikeja_1 recorded 76 per cent and Ihovbor_1 79 per cent.

Several listed plants recorded zero generation during the month, including Sapele_2, Alaoji_1, Geregu_2 and Ibom Power_1.

The commission’s data also showed that Olorunsogo_2 generated 87MW from 109MW available, while Sapele_1 generated 25MW from 27MW available.

Overall, the August figures indicate a grid operating at relatively high utilisation of available generating capacity, while frequency and voltage excursions remained notable operational issues.

Crusoe, a Denver-based AI data center startup that recently raised $3.9 billion, has ended plans to use a new line of stationary power plants developed by fellow Denver company Boom Supersonic.

Founded in 2018 as a bitcoin miner that ran on excess natural gas from oil fields, Crusoe has since become one of the biggest builders of AI data centers, including a massive campus in Abilene, Texas, that supplies computing power to OpenAI.

Boom Supersonic, which is developing a supersonic passenger jet called Overture, launched a new business last year to sell a version of the engine it’s developing for that jet as natural gas-fired stationary power plants. Its Superpower turbine shares about 80% of the same parts with that airborne engine, called Symphony.

Crusoe had signed on to be the first customer for this business, agreeing to spend $1.25 billion on 29 of Boom’s 42-megawatt Superpower turbines. The first deliveries were supposed to begin in 2027. But that deal has since fallen apart, according to Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl.

Friday, in a post on X, after congratulating Crusoe founders Cully Cavness and Chase Lochmiller on the company’s recent raise, Scholl said the companies are no longer moving forward with the turbine launch partnership. Although he did note that other customers were in its pipeline.

“The TL/DR is that turbines are no longer part of Crusoe’s near term primary power mix at Abilene/etc., so a launch partnership just didn’t make sense,” he wrote in the post. “Boom will be delivering about 250MW of Superpowers next year to other sites, and we’re targeting 1GW in 2028. We’re grateful for the help Crusoe gave us in shaping Superpower and continue cheering for their successes. The future is long, and we look forward to potentially teaming up if/when turbines become part of their primary power mix.”

Crusoe confirmed to TechCrunch that it is no longer doing business with Boom.

“We build AI factories from the power up, and we’re bringing new campuses online across the country, powered by innovative energy sources,” spokesperson Andrew Schmitt said in an email. “As our portfolio grows, we stay flexible, choosing the energy solutions that are right for each site as its needs evolve – including turbines, along with wind, solar, batteries and the grid. While Boom has been a great partner, the partnership isn’t the right fit today. We wish them well.”

Crusoe’s initial 1.2 gigawatt data center in Abilene that was built for Oracle and OpenAI is powered by the grid, according to the company. There is also a gas-turbine power plant that is used for backup power only. Crusoe is also building a 900 megawatt data center in Abilene for Microsoft, which will be powered on-site gas turbines.

Losing its launch customer is seemingly a setback for Boom, which raised $300 million last year, largely to commercialize the new business. The idea, Scholl told TechCrunch at the time, was to use profits from the stationary power plant business to fund the development of Overture.

Scholl could not be reached for comment before publication; TechCrunch will update this article if he responds.