MAINTENANCE CULTURE IN ELECTRICAL POWER INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF AFAM POWER STATION

Abstract

The constant use of any production facility especially machines, equipment and tools increases its depreciation rate. Hence from time to time, repairs are needed, but repairs alone do not constitute good maintenance. Good maintenance policies prevent production interruption and losses in addition to the fact that it lengthens the service life of machines and equipment. This entails planned inspection, testing, cleaning, drying, monitoring, adjusting, corrective modification and repair of electrical equipment. This paper investigates the maintenance culture at Afam Power Station for selected years and the impact of such policies on installed machines and operational efficiency of the station. Results show that there are extensive deviations between maintenance policies guiding the station and actual practice. The resultant effect is that by 1997 only two generating units were working and the percentage performance of the station fell to 45.3%. Recommendations include the establishment of a good maintenance work documentation system, increased training programme for local manpower, privatization of the electric power industry among others.