FG Commends TCN Over Transmission Infrastructure Upgrade, Says It Reflects Administration’s Policy Targets

…Commissions Alausa, Ijora Substations New Transformers

The Federal government has applauded the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for the ongoing commissioning of transformers in parts of the country saying that it is targeted at confronting the infrastructure constraints that have limited Nigeria’s economic potential.

The Minister of power, Joseph Tegbe, spoke on Tuesday at the commissioning of a 100MVA, 132/33kV power transformer at the Alausa Transmission Substation, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos state.

It would be recalled that on Monday, the newly upgraded Ijora Apapa Road 132/33kV Transmission Substation installed with additional 60MVA transformer was commissioned.

He noted that investment of this nature is important because Alausa is not just another location on the electricity network, but is within one of the most economically and administratively important parts of Lagos State.

According to Tegbe, “This axis supports a dense concentration of government institutions, commercial establishments, businesses, residential communities and economic activities.

“The electricity infrastructure serving this area therefore carries responsibilities far beyond the physical boundaries of this substation. The history of this substation demonstrates precisely why this intervention became necessary.

“The Alausa 132/33kV Transmission Substation was originally equipped with one 60MVA transformer, one 45MVA transformer and one 30MVA transformer. Together, they provided an installed capacity of 135MVA, equivalent to approximately 108MW  to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of reliable, accessible and sustainable electricity for every Nigerian.”

However, he noted that TCN has undertaken the replacement of the existing 30MVA, 132/33kV transformer with the new 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer, adding that the intervention has increased the total wheeling and load capacity of this substation from 135MVA to 205MVA, equivalent to approximately 164MW.

Further, the Minister observed that it has increased the quantum of bulk power available to IKEDC by 80MW for onward delivery to consumers within its franchise area.

He said the effect of an additional 80MW of bulk power availability, has multiplayer effects of more numbers of businesses, industries, hospitals, schools, offices, markets, technology companies, malls, artisans and people whose livelihoods depend upon electricity.

He commended the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for undertaking this important capacity upgrade and for its continuing work to strengthen Nigeria’s transmission network.

On his part, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz Managing Director/CEO Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), said the project represents a direct reflection of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration and TCN’s unrelenting drive to strengthen and expand the nation’s transmission infrastructure.

According to the TCN Managing Director, “Upon energisation, it will deliver more stable and reliable power to at least 70,000 residents across Alausa and its environs, through the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company.

“Beyond serving the immediate community, this upgrade meaningfully increases the quantum of bulk power that TCN can wheel to distribution load centers nationwide. It reinforces grid stability and ensures that more bulk power reaches the distribution companies’ load centers for onward delivery to electricity consumers within their franchise areas.”