Incremental Power: TCN Energises, Commissions Three Power Transformers In Calabar, Uyo And Lagos Substations

Head of the Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita (center), flanked by other government officials at the commissioning in Calabar.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has energized and commissioned into service three new 132/33kV power Transformers as part of intensified efforts towards achieving incremental power nationwide.

While two 60MVA Transformers were commissioned at Calabar and Uyo; TCN also replaced a 30MVA with a 100MVA transformer at Alimosho Transmission Substation in Lagos.

The capacities of Calabar, Uyo and Alimosho 132/33kV substations prior to the commissioning were 180MVA, 120MVA and 160MVA respectively.

But to boost power supplies, the three substations were upgraded to 240MVA, 180MVA and 230MVA for Calabar, Uyo and Alimosho respectively, prior to the commissioning.

The TCN General Manager (Public Affairs), Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, who gave these details in a statement, explained that the 60MVA Transformer at Calabar was commissioned by the Head of the Service of the Federation Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita.

Mrs Mbah further said that the upgraded substation in Calabar is expected to improve the quality of power supply to the customers of Port Harcourt Distribution Company in the following areas: Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Odukpani, Bakassi, Ogoja, Ikom, Yakuur, Itighidi, Ugep, Obudu and environs.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom (center) while commissioning the 60MVA transformer in Uyo

Also, the 60MVA Transformer at Uyo commissioned by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emmanual Udom and the upgraded substation are expected to improve power supply to customers in the following communities of Port Harcourt Distribution Company: Uyo, Oron, Ikot – Ekpene, Abak, Ethan, Airport and environs.

Further, the 100MVA transformer at Alimosho commissioned by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Adebowale, is expected to significantly improve power supply to customers of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in the following areas: Agege, Abule Egba, Ekoro, Ajasa Command, Gowon Estate, Shagari Estate, Okunola, Idimu Road, Olorun Adaba, Shasha, Santos Layout, Akowonjo, Orile Agege, Aribania, Dopemu Oko Oba, Tower Aluminium, Iju Road and Tabontabon.

The TCN recalled that within the Month of April, 2018, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had commissioned into service a 40MVA mobile power Transformer in Umuahia Substation and a 60MVA Transformer in Aba.

Meanwhile, TCN disclosed that it has already completed a 100MVA Power Transformer in its Ejigbo, Lagos and 60MVA in Zaria Transmission Substations both awaiting official commissioning.

It said that the installation of a second 100MVA Transformer in Ejigbo Substation has reached advance stage, adding that a new substation under construction by in-house TCN Engineers in an island town of Elashe in Oriade LGA, Lagos is in progress.

The TCN however, appealed to power Distribution Companies (DisCos) to complement its efforts by embarking on similar investments in the distribution networks.

According to TCN, “The only way the company’s efforts at rehabilitating and expanding the grid can produce maximum benefit to the nation, is if corresponding investment is made in the various distribution networks nationwide.”

It further noted that inherent inadequacies in the distribution networks are limiting the amount of power delivered to electricity end-users on daily basis, stressing that this problem must be addressed with very significant investments in the distribution network.

TCN pledged to continue to expand the grid network as mapped out in its Transmission rehabilitation and expansion program.