Power Outage: TCN Raises Alarm Over Near Collapse Of Power Sector, DisCos Capitalisation

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised alarm over impending collapse of the power sector if the power Distribution Companies (DisCos) are not immediately capitalised.

It cited that because of inadequate and reliable distribution network, power outage occurred Saturday night within Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and its environs shortly after there was threats of rainfall and subsequent rains.

The TCN maintained that the power outage occurred despite the fact that there was sufficient power load being transmitted in the grid but the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) could not off take its load for distribution.

In a statement via TCN verified Twitter handle, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said AEDC only off take as low as 0.5MW and l6MW from TCN’s 330kV substations in Katampe and Gwagwalada respectively instead of its average load usually taken from Katampe and Gwagwalada Substations which are 250MW and l5OMW respectively.

According to Mrs Mbah, “All AEDC 33kV feeders were out due to poor distribution network. This will certainly create high voltage that may damage TCN terminal equipment’s. This kind of situation will be more dangerous if the rain falls in most parts of Nigeria.

“TCN Management is seriously disturbed because if nothing is done quickly to capitalize the DlSCOs, the power sector will completely collapse.”

While giving analysis of the power outages, she further said: “As at 19:00 hours on April 25, 2020, due to rainfall, Abuja dropped load and was off taking only 0.5MW and l6MW from TCN’s 330kV substations in Katampe and Gwagwalada respectively.

“Meanwhile, the average load AEDC usually takes from Katampe and Gwagwalada Substations are 250MW ond l5OMW respectively.

“Precisely at l7:00Hours load in Katampe Substation was 288.0MW. At l8:00 Hours, the load dropped to l74MW then at 18.30 it dropped to as low as 9.9MW. at I9:00Hours, this further reduced to 0.5MW. The load off take by AEDC then increased to 33.2MW at 20:39Hours.”