TCN recovers power grid, installs 60MVA transformers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it has recorded the fastest recovery of the power grid system within 45 minutes after a partial collapse on Wednesday.

According to a data record of the partial system collapse from TCN on Thursday, the parts that were affected by the partial power system collapse were fully recovered in 45 minutes, being the fastest of such activities in the history of the power sector.

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The records also showed that during the system disturbance, power supply at the south-eastern axis remained intact without experiencing an outage.

In a briefing on Thursday, the acting Managing Director of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, confirmed this.

“We had one system collapse earlier and the one of yesterday [Wednesday] which was partial collapse is the second time the grid is experiencing system disturbance in the last eight months; this has never been the case in the power sector history.

“It is also happening at a time when the national electricity grid has increased in the capacity of energy it delivers to consumers.

“For instance, I can confirm that the grid recovered from the latest system collapse in just 45 minutes.

“This shows that the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman towards bequeathing an improved power sector to Nigeria is working, we are working hard towards zero system collapse,” said Abdulaziz.

The TCN head also said the company’s engineers are replacing corroded glass disc insulators on Tower 425 of Ikeja West to Osogbo 330 kilovolt (kV) transmission line while a contractor is upgrading the Kebbi-Sokoto transmission line.

“This same week, a 60/66MVA power transformer was delivered to the Kubwa substation in Abuja and our engineers are doing the installation.

“By the time it is completed, the power wheeling capacity of Kubwa substation will increase significantly, although we are meeting the demands of the distribution load centre at present.”

Abdulaziz also said TCN has also delivered another 60/66MVA power transformer to Kumbotso Substation in Kano while a 30MVA mobile transformer has been moved to the new Bichi substation in the state to further increase the bulk power available for distribution.