The TCN Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has revealed the successful completion of several transmission substations, reconductoring of aging low capacity transmission lines, replacement of aged and upgraded capacities of existing transformers in readiness to to boost wheeling and transmission capacities depending on availability of energy off takers.
Already, the company revealed that it currently has the capacity to wheel 8,700 MW of bulk electricity on 330kV and 132kV voltage levels from power generation plants through high-voltage transmission lines and transformers to distribution load centres nationwide.
These are disclosed in a compendium of achievements and challenges of the company in the past five years under the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, made available to Journalists in Abuja.
According to the document, “TCN has successfully completed several substations, initiated the re-conductoring of aging and low-capacity transmission lines, replaced aged transformers with new ones, and upgraded the capacities of existing transformers. In addition, multiple system generation peaks were recorded, including an all-time peak of 5,802 MW. Remarkably, for a period spanning 421 days from 20th July in 2022 to 13th of September, 2023, the national grid did not experience any collapse.”
Further, TCN explained that the various strategic projects and programs it embarked upon have ensured grid expansion, stability, and reliability in efficient transmission of bulk power in the country.
Through its strategic plan code-named Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Program (NEGMERP), TCN has executed several capital projects and reinforcement projects across the transmission regions in the country.
“The projects have improved bulk power transmission to various distribution load centers nationwide making it possible for the Distribution Companies to offtake more power for onward distribution to customers within their franchise areas, consequently impacting positively on socio-economic activities within the states”, the company added.
It assured continuing system reliability and capacity improvements by continuing reinforcement of the existing transmission infrastructure to reduce transmission losses and improve the overall efficiency of the transmission network, upgrade the existing substations and transmission lines to increase their capacity and further improve reliability, rehabilitation and upgrading of transmission lines and substation projects across the country.
In addition, TCN said it will actively seek to gazette and register with the state governments all its substation lands and transmission lines Right of Way for existing, ongoing and future projects and collaborate with States development control to jointly patrol Right of Way to evict encroachers in a timely manner.
On financial sustainability, TCN indicated that it will explore some areas for financial growth and increase in revenue by expanding the network to areas of high profitability, seeking new viable eligible Customers on the transmission network, explore the improvement of TCN’s revenue through the optimization of Fibre Optics/OPGW facilities, especially the unutilized and underutilized ones, embark on deliberate steps that will lead to reduction of transmission losses to minimize transmission loss factor financial penalties.
Other strategies to boost its revenue include to develop and implement cost-saving initiatives to reduce expenses and improve the overall financial performance of the company, explore new business opportunities and partnerships to diversify the company’s revenue streams and improve its financial stability, continuous support of the development of West African Power Pool (WAPP) Regional Electricity Market, among others.
It expressed optimism that “By implementing the above, TCN will not only increase its revenue but also satisfy the needs of DisCos, GenCos, International Customers, and Eligible Customers, and thus achieve a more financially sustainable business growth.”
News7 days ago