By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) hereby state that it has completed repairs on the 30MVA 132/33kV power
transformer in its Oghara transmission substation, Delta State that developed fault on the 10th of May, 2018.
The power transformer TCN said was installed by NDDC in September, 2016, has been repaired and energized on September 29, 2019.
According to the General Manager (Public Affairs) Ndidi Mbah, TCN said that after the 30MVA power transformer tripped on differential protection, investigations carried out on the transformer revealed that the neutral bushing of the transformer had lost its insulation and required replacement.
Efforts to get replacement bushing anywhere in the system failed as TCN did not have this transformer brand elsewhere in its system. Spares were not also made available as part of the contract by NDDC.
As last resort, TCN ordered for the transformer’s brand of bushing abroad, this was delivered and conveyed to Oghara Transmission Substation on September 21, 2018 and replacement carried out in-house by TCN engineers, before the transformer was restored to service last month.
By this repair, TCN said that it had fully resumed the transmission of bulk electricity to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) through the Oghara Substation. Consequently IBEDC is expected to stop load shedding and resume normal supply to Teaching Hospital and Oghara Township.
The company revealed that the Oghara transmission substation is a 2x30MVA 132/33kV capacity substation constructed by NDDC and commissioned in March, 2015.
TCN said it had procured enough spares and have also commenced repairs on the other transformer, assuring that necessary steps for the fortification and standardization of substations, lines and major equipment all over the country have been taken.