The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has disclosed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) would receive 1000 Megawatts wheeling capacity boost when the Abuja power ring projects are fully operational.
Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu disclosed this during an inspection tour of the projects, Friday in Abuja.
In company of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, the Minister said, the projects were at completion stages, assuring that some would be completed by the end of this year.
“These projects, about six (6) of them, combining lines and substations, are at the completion stage, over 90 per cent as you can see. We have started from Gwarimpa, where you saw a brand new Dawaki substation. That substation, will be completed hopefully between November and December 2022.
“It is at over 90% completion and the contractor is chasing the completion date to be able to complete and if it is completed, it will increase the capacity of the TCN by some megawatts. What they would need is enough generation. So, in all, we have six of these projects, which will increase the wheeling capacity of the TCN by over 1000 megawatts.”
The projects, according to Engr. Aliyu, received a funding loan support of the French Development Agency, (AFD). “It is a $170million loan. It is a Federal Government project which was started during this government in 2018. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its quest to raise the operational capacity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) embarked on the project”.
The inspection team also visited the 2x150MVA 132/33kV Lugbe West Main Transmission Substation to assess the level of project execution.
There, the Minister frowned at the slow pace of work, therefore, urged the contractor to redouble effort by putting in extra time and resources to make up for the lost time.
“You need to double up your speed. You can see that you’re lagging behind. Others are at about 90 per cent level of completion while you are at the level of 60 or below. Double up your speed to make up,” Aliyu said.
The team visited another 132/33kV substation in Kuje which would have 2x60MVA power transformers along with the transmission line.
On completion, the Kuje Substation would boost bulk power supply to distribution load demand centres at the Kuje Area Council, where more public, commercial and residential buildings are fast rising.
The TCN ring projects hope to address a 20-year energy demand index in Abuja.
