…Localized tripping at BEDC not TCN’s affair
By Dele Ogbodo
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has said that Akure, the Ondo State Capital has been re-energized with a brand new 60MVA 132/33kV power transformer, while also successfully completing a 30/40MVA 132/33kV transmission substation project in Wudil, Kano State.
The transformer and substation project would be officially commissioned by the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, any moment from now, as revealed by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, in charge of Media and Publicity in a statement made available to SHARPEDGENEWSOnline.
Meanwhile, exclusive information at the disposal of this medium informed that residents of Ayede-Ogbese, which is some minutes drive from Akure, have been thrown into darkness due mainly to vandalization of transformer equipment thereby creating avenues for underworld men to unleash attack, robbery and killing in the area.
TCN however said: “The transformers have been energized and are supplying the communities where they are located and their environs. The projects are an addition to the twenty seven power transformers completed across the country mainly by TCN in-house engineers.
According Mbah, the contract for construction of Wudil 30/40MVA 330/33kV transmission substation was awarded in 2009 but the contractor failed persistently to complete the contract for 9 years. Consequently, TCN took over the project within the 1st week of July, 2018, in line with its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) aimed at strengthening the grid for improved power supply. The project was successfully completed within three weeks by TCN’s in-house engineers and energized in July 31st, 2018.
“The Wudil Transmission Substation project has increased the quantum of bulk electricity supply to Kano Electricity Distribution Company for onward delivery to electricity customers in Gaya Town, Taraki Garko, Wudil town and Mariri among others. These towns who are customers of Kano Electricity Distribution Company are expected to enjoy increased hours of power supply.
On the other hand, Mbah said the installation of the new 1X60MVA 132/33kV power transformer and 2No 33kV feeder bays in Akure Transmission Substation, funded by the World Bank that commenced in February 2017, was completed and also energized last month. The new 60MVA power transformer increased the capacity of Akure Transmission Substation from 120MVA to 180MVA.
TCN also said: “That with the additional capacity, it has equally increased power supply to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company load centers that take supply from the substation. This means that TCN has more available electricity at the Akure Substation for Ibadan DisCo to take directly to its customers in Akure metropolis and its environs, including Igbara Oke, Oba Ile and Iju where suppressed load will be relieved.”
Mbah, said Wudil and Akure transformers bring to 29, the number of transformers installed by TCN from February 2017 till date.
In a related development, TCN has averred that it is not responsible for the alleged recent instability at the national grid which led to over 2000 tripping in its network as alleged by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) between January and July.
Mbah, said: “The alleged statement was clearly misleading because in the subsequent part of the same report, BEDC claimed significant improvement in its services which could not have been possible if the National Grid was weak as alleged. BEDC has no imbedded generation hence it depends entirely on the National Grid and could not have recorded such improvement if the National Grid has not also improved.
According to the statement, since BEDC does not have embedded generation and does not own its own transmission network, achievements like improved electricity supply to over 54 communities, provision of 24-hour supply covering over 20km in Asaba among others though commendable, clearly cannot happen if the national grid was as problematic as alleged in the report.
“TCN has good working relationship with BEDC Management and that both companies are working towards improving power supply to BEDC consumers. TCN therefore will not join issues nor engage in unnecessary blame game with BEDC; however, for the sake of clarity, most of the so called 2,000 tripping were actually on 33/11kV feeders in BEDC’s network due to faults.
“That despite significant improvement recorded by the company within the last one and half years, there are still issues being addressed by its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program supported by several Multilateral and Bilateral donors. It equally acknowledged that there are also pressing issues in BEDC which being addressed, such as the 40MVA transformer issue at Oghara caused by failure of NNDC to comply with TCN specifications.” It said.