Thirty-nine (39) power projects of which seven (7) have been completed as others are receiving finishing touches in Kano and three (3) other states in Northwestern Nigeria courtesy of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is expected to add over 10,000 mega watts (MWs) to the current power wheeling capacity of 8,100 MWs and improve power supply to Nigerians.
The Kano transmission region of TCN which is one of the 10 regions of the company covers a core part of the Northwest region and states comprising Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and parts of Bauchi state.
According to the Kano region projects’ records by the company’s Transmission Service Provider (TSP) section, there are 39 projects for the region. The breakdown shows that while seven projects have been completed recently, there are 20 ongoing power transmission projects, and there are 12 other key power transmission projects that are at various stages of conception and execution.
The seven projects completed by TCN include: construction of a 132/33kV power transmission substation in Bichi, Kano state and installation of a 30MVA power transformer there to improve bulk power access at the Bichi area and its environs. The project, which has since been delivered 100 per cent and put to use, awaits its official commissioning.
The company also constructed a 1.2km access road and drainage from the Bichi transmission substation to link the Kano – Katsina expressway as well as gravelling of the substation area.
Still in Bichi, the federal government recently awarded another contract to construct a 132/33kV substation that will have two units of 60MVA transformers.
In Kumbotso, Kano city, TCN completed the construction of a regional office block to house the Kano region of TCN. Another office block was built at the Jigawa subregion, and another at the Katsina sub-region.
The company has also completed the construction of a 132/33kV transmission substation at Rimin Zakara in Kano. The new substation has two units of 150MVA transformers on the 330kV side and two units of 60MVA transformers on the 132kV side.
Apart from these seven completed projects, there are 20 ongoing power transmission projects in four states across the Kano region of TCN. For instance, analysis of the projects’ record shows that the construction of a subregional office of TCN at the Kumbotso substation in Kano is at 80 per cent level in December 2022. Still at Kumbotso substation, a new bay has been constructed and the relocation of a 75MVAR Shunt Reactor to the new bay is at 90% completion level.
At the Dakata axis of Kano, TCN is constructing a 132kV transmission line bay that will link up to Hadejia in Jigawa state; the ongoing project has passed midway.
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Speaking on the investments and projects’ execution during an interview, 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 MD also hinted that TCN had 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.
He also urged stakeholders to collaborate with TCN in safeguarding power transmission facilities nationwide.
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In view of the massive investments by the federal government, particularly the transmission section of the power sector value chain, the Nigerian Power Consumers Forum (NPCF), commended TCN 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 just like Lagos, Kano is an industrial hub and the centre of commerce in Nigeria but that it does not have the right quantum of electricity the states and its adjourning states require to thrive.
He said if the federal government delivers 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.
Mr Okoh noted that all these investments would depend on a robust power transmission system around Kano and the northeast.
Okoh said: “It is laudable that TCN is starting ahead to install transformers, expand the lines, reconductor others and build new substations to accommodate the long-term investments. Up till now, there is no single power plant in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and the 10MW wind farm in Katsina is not a big power plant.
“TCN is on the right track and we urge them to accelerate these projects because all that the consumer needs is improved power supply. Government should do more of such investments and compel the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to do the same.”