There are currently two main types of power plants operating in Nigeria: (1) hydro-electric and (2) thermal or fossil fuel power plants. With a total installed capacity of (81 percent of the total) in early 2014, thermal power plants (gas-fired plants) dominate the Nigerian power supply mix. Electricity production from hydroelectric sources (% of total) in Nigeria was reported at 17.59% in 2014, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. There have been two main types of fossil fuel/thermal power plants in the country: (i) coal-fired and (ii) natural gas-fired.
The power plants are classified, based on ownership, as either:
As of December 2013, the total installed or nameplate capacity (maximum capacity) of the power plants was 6,953 MW. Available capacity was 4,598 MW. Actual average generation was 3,800 MW.
As of December 2014, the total installed capacity of the power plants was 7,445 MW. Available capacity was 4,949 MW. Actual average generation was less than 3,900 MW.
The Presidential Task Force on Power's peak demand forecast is 12,800 MW (April 2015).
The Oji River Thermal Power Plant was a coal-fired power plant. It is no longer operational.