By The ICIR
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has imported 15 power transformers to sustain its transmission expansion plan (TEP).
As the TEP seeks to increase the current bulk power transmission capacity of over 7,000 megawatts, the procured transformers are expected to raise the national transmission wheeling capacity by 1,487mw.
According to the TCN, the brand new power transformers were recently received at the Apapa port, Lagos State, in what officials described as a historic event for the entire power sector.
The transformers comprise 10 units of 60mva transformer for 132/33kv line capacity, and five units of 150mva 330/132kv capacity transformers delivered to the TCN Central Store in Ojo, Lagos State, for onward delivery to the various TCN project sites nationwide.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, said the contract for the supply of the transformers under the Nigerian Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP) was funded by the World Bank.
Abdulaziz noted that the TCN had mapped out the sub-stations where the transformers would be installed.
He added that when the transformers are installed and connected to the national power grid, the increased transmission capacity would be 637mw from 10 of the 60mva 132/33kV power transformers, and another 850mw through the five units of the 150mva 330/132kv transformers.
“This will be an additional 1,487mv transmission network capacity while ensuring N-1 reliability criteria in the sub-stations, which is strategic in enhancing grid stability,” he said.
Abdulaziz noted that in August last year, the World Bank also funded transformer supply contracts, which brought in 10 units of 60mva 132/33kV transformers and 25 earthing transformers.
“Out of the 10 units of 60mva transformers, five were installed in Karu and Gombe sub-stations, while two are currently being installed in Kano, and one in Lagos State.
“This is the first time in the history of the TCN that it took delivery of large numbers of transformers within a short period. These are milestone achievements for TCN as it strives to implement its short-term development plan under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP),” he said.
The World Bank-sponsored NETAP project is one of the TCN donor-funded projects aimed at expanding the transmission grid, while also prioritizing maintenance of the existing transmission infrastructures.
Abdulaziz revealed that the TCN was equally executing several projects funded by the Agence Français de Développement (AFD), while processes for projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) were progressing fast and the TCN would soon sign contracts for 330kV & 132kV sub-stations.
He also said the procurement of consultants for projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would soon commence.
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