The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has once again blamed low power generation for the current poor supply in the country, especially, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah made the clarification in a statement on Friday, March 8, 2024.
The statement was in response to the recent publications in the media insinuating that the vandalisation of the Gwagwalada-Katampe transmission line has impacted the TCN’s capacity to wheel adequate power to abuja.
Contrary to the reports, TCN clarified that the Gwagwalada incident impacted the redundancy and flexibility of bulk supply and not the capability of TCN to supply adequate bulk supply to Abuja and environs.
“This simply means that the wheeling capacity of TCN to Abuja has not been affected because the available 2X330kV Shiroro – Katampe Transmission lines are sufficient to convey allocated power to Abuja”, Mrs. Mbah explained.
She noted that TCN supplies AEDC bulk power for Abuja and environs through three major 330kV transmission lines. The three bulk power sources are to ensure flexibility and reliability.
She maintained that the current power situation being experienced generally was as a result of low load allocation, caused by low power generation into the nation’s grid.
Recall that TCN announced recently that Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade -Katampe Transmission line was vandalised.
TCN said, the sad incident occurred on the 26th of February, 2024, at about 11.32 pm.
It said, at the said time, the Gwagwalada – Katampe Transmission line tripped at Gwagwalada Transmission Substation and trial reclosure by TCN Operators failed, necessitating a physical patrol of the line.
The company said that its lines and patrol team discovered that the four (4) tower footings of Tower 70 were vandalized, destroying the tower legs and causing the tower to stand on the ground, supported by conductors, noting that the incident has reduced bulk power supply flexibility and the volume of power into Abuja by 250MW.
