In the last two years, the Nigerian government through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has completed 11 projects spanning across eight states in the Northeast, North central and the Northwest.
The company is presently executing 30 more projects with funding from the World Bank and four other revenue sources, according to records obtained from the company’s Transmission Service Provider (TSP) section.
TCN executed these projects under its Bauchi region and across over 10 transmission substations. The Bauchi Transmission Region of TCN covers the six states of the North East region, Plateau in the North Central region, and Kafanchan area in Kaduna State in the North West region.
These North-East states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. The Bauchi Region interfaces with three Distribution Companies (DisCos) namely Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Kaduna Electric and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
Analysis of the project records at the Bauchi region indicate that, TCN constructed 132, 33 kilovolts (kV) Bauchi transmission substation with one 60MVA power transformer and three 33kV feeders to supply power to customers through Jos DisCo.
At the 330kv Jos substation, the company installed a 150MVA power transformer which is already operating and will be commissioned soon. Besides this, it has commissioned a 75MVAr reactor with advanced fire protection system to improve the voltage of power supply in Plateau State.
In Kaduna, TCN has enhanced the 132kV Kafanchan substation where it installed two units of 60MVA transformers recently.
The innovative process also reached Gombe State where TCN delivered five projects. Foremost of this, is the replacement and upgrading of a faulty 45MVA transformer to a 60MVA transformer at the 132kV Gombe substation. Still at the Federal University Kashere in Gombe State, TCN constructed a dedicated 33kV line bay extension to improve the bulk electricity available to the university.
There was a similar 3kV power line project that was completed in Doma and another power line to the Nigeria Army University in Biu, Borno State. TCN also installed two units of 50MVAr devices for voltage improvement in the state.
Another major project the Nigerian electricity grid service provider completed is the re-erection of 10 units of 330kV towers on the Damaturu to Molia (Maiduguri) transmission line. The company is currently stringing the conductors on the line.
TCN is doing 30 other projects with funds from World Bank, four others TCN is further delivering 30 more power transmission projects in the Bauchi transmission region with funding from the World Bank, the Federal Government of Nigeria budget, among others.
Among the 13 projects being funded by the World Bank in the Bauchi region, is the reinforcement with a 150MVA transformer at the 330kV Yola substation and two units of 100MVA transformers at the 132kV level of the substation. The Yola Transmission facility is also getting high voltage switchgears and associated equipment with three additional feeder bays.
TCN is also installing a 150MVA transformer, high voltage switchgears and associated equipment with three more feeder bays at the 330/132/33kV Mayo Belwa substation still in Adamawa State.
In Borno State, two units of 60MVA transformers, high voltage switchgears, accessories along with the complete rehabilitation of the 132kV Damboa station is a key milestone.
The company is installing a 150MVA transformer at the 330kV Damaturu substation along with high voltage switchgears and associated equipment with three feeder bays in Yobe state.
The 132kV Biu substation in Borno State is being rehabilitated and reinforced with 60MVA transformers along with high voltage switchgears. At the 330kV Maiduguri substation, the company is installing a 150MVA transformer, high voltage switchgears and three feeder bays.
At the 330kV Bauchi substation which also serves as the regional headquarters of TCN, the company is working on reinforcing the facility with 150MVA transformer, high voltage switchgears and associated equipment along with three feeder bays. TCN is also upgrading multiple power transformers, rehabilitating the control rooms with digital control systems and associated high voltages devices.
The federal government through TCN is upgrading 132kV Jalingo substation to 330kV level with 150MVA transformer and 100MVA at the 132kV side; through the World Bank fund, TCN will also reinforce the 330kV Gombe substation with 300MVA and 100MVA transformers and their extension devices.
There will be a rehabilitation of the civil structures of the control room and the installation of a digital control system at the 330kV Jos substation; while TCN is doing a turn-in and turn-out of the 132kV Bilit substation and will install two 60MVA transformers there. And in Bauchi, TCN will construct another 330/132kV substation with two 150MVA and two 60MVA transformers.
Eight others being executed in the Bauchi region are being funded with budgetary appropriation. There are more projects coming with budgetary appropriation especially in Adamawa state. A brand new 132kV double circuit transmission line will be constructed from Yola up to Mubi while serving Song, Little, Gombi, Hong and Gulak 132kv substations. Each of these substations will have the installation of two units of 60MVA transformers and line bay extension.
Equally, TCN is working on extending the 132kV double circuit line in Yola; it will do the same for the 132kV transmission line from Dramaturge to Gashua and reaching Nguru Hadejia. The Gashua and Nguru substations will have their bays extended.
The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of TCN is funding one project in Yobe state and that is to provide a 60MVA transformer with three distribution interface feeders at the 132kV Damaturu substation.
Five projects are being funded through a TCN – DisCo Service Level Agreement (SLA) strategy with the financing coming through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The projects are the completion of 132kV Makeri to Pankshin transmission line between Bauchi and Plateau; reinforcement of 132kV Gombe substation with 100MVA transformer, there is the same project for 132kV Yola and Jos substations. TCN will also install two 60MVA transformers at the Potiskum substation in Yobe under this funding arrangement.
And through the Siemens’ Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), three power transmission projects are ongoing in the Bauchi region. These are 60MVA transformer installation at Potiskum substation (Yobe), 60MVA mobile transformer installation at Savannah substation in Bauchi and another 60MVA mobile transformer at New Toro substation still in Bauchi.
Why we are investing massively in transmission – MD
Further speaking on the investments, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, said the company was making the improvements in the grid, through its Nigeria Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion, and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP) to improve bulk power available to distribution load centres to supply to Nigerians.
He said, “These were accomplished in spite of the challenges such as insurgency, vandalism, communal clashes and encroachment of transmission Right of Way (RoW).”
He also said a lot of old substations have been reinforced with new transformers and associated switchgear; old transmission lines are also being reconductored.
The company’s head said TCN has also awarded contracts for several new transmission lines as part of its priority projects, while some of the construction works are ongoing others are at different stages of completion. These include reconductoring of 16 transmission lines, and 17 others under the Service Level Agreement (SLA) projects to further reinforce the grid for optimal evacuation and transmission of bulk electricity.
“We must resolve to continually face our challenges head-on by constantly looking for ways to improve our revenue capacity and capability to deliver on our mandate,” Abdulaziz noted while urging stakeholders on cooperation.
In view of the massive investment by the federal government, particularly the transmission section of the power sector value chain, the Nigerian Power Consumers Forum (NPCF), commended TCN and the donor agencies, including the World Bank for the feat.
It noted that only such critical power transmission grid investments, backed by a matching strength at the DisCos’ networks, and even at the GenCos’ stations, can bring succour to power consumers.
The Convener of NPCF, Michael Okoh, said the north eastern Nigeria has been neglected for long in terms of infrastructure, adding that with such facilities to improve power supply, the economy would thrive and vices as well civil unrest in some of the places would end as people have thriving things to do.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari last month, commissioned the exploration of oil in Kolmani River 2 oil well between Gombe and Bauchi state. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd said it plans massive investments around the oilfield including a large-scale refinery, power plant and a fertilizer plant.
Mr Okoh noted that the provision of power transmission facilities ahead of these NNPC investments was crucial.
Okoh said: “TCN is actually planning ahead and this is the best way to stir up development. There is no single power plant in the north east up until 2020 when the 40MW Dadin Kowa started operation and the 40MW Kashimbila hydro is still not operational.
“NNPC is building a power plant in Maiduguri and if TCN gets its facilities in good time, they will be just the best for the NNPC Kolmani refinery, power and fertilizer plants,” added Okoh.
*Source: Independent
