The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has delivered 22 brand-new power transformers, spare parts and critical equipment to its Central Store in Ojo, Lagos, as part of efforts to boost power transmission in the area.
”As more of the equipment arrives at Lagos Port for onward delivery to the store for subsequent installation at various ongoing project sites across the country, some of the equipment would be kept in the store to serve as spares for future use,” TCN said in a statement signed by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, Public Affairs Manager.
A large number of the equipment still in the store was recently inspected by members of the Governing Board of TCN and Management.
The massive and unprecedented stockpile of various kinds of transmission equipment presently is gradually being moved to project sites for maintenance, new projects and upgrading of existing transmission lines and substations.
The equipment, described as the highest of such in the company’s history, comprises 22 power transformers, haulage trucks, transmission switchyard spare parts and 45No. earthing transformers, suspension clamps, vibration dampers, armour rods, circuit breakers, current transformers, voltage transformers and 100 tons crane truck heads.
The Technical and Monitoring Committee of the Governing Board, led by the Committee Chairman, Nsima Ekere, visited the Ojo Store as part of their two-day visit to the Lagos Region where they inspected key power transmission substations as well as the Ojo Central Store.
After the equipment inspection, Mr Ekere lauded TCN for the record stock delivery to the store.
“We have seen loads of equipment that give me hope that the new dawn that we have been expecting to see at TCN is here. We saw about 30 forklifts, mobile transformers, reconditioning facilities, all kinds of things, the conductors, isolators, several other types of equipment and electric scaffold mobile scissors among others,” he said.
He continued that “all are to improve the capacity of TCN’s efficiency in doing their work. I am convinced that the transmission grid expansion project that TCN is presently executing is ongoing and I must also commend the World Bank and other donor agencies that are helping us with funding.”
Mr. Ekere said that with the massive stock at the TCN central store, the capacity of TCN to wheel power is being enhanced.
Speaking on the quantum of equipment in the Ojo Central Store, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz said that most of the equipment was procured for donor-funded projects supported by the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), and African Development Bank, among others.
Engr Abdulaziz noted that resources have been committed by Donor Agencies, assisting the transmission company in its grid expansion drive, the capacity of the transformers he said, ranges from 60MVA up to 150MVA.
Speaking further, he said: “We have not seen this level of the massive supply of materials in TCN stores in the past, purely for network expansion and maintenance. We have 150MVA transformers which are very massive and will eventually be connected to our 330kV circuit. We have 100MVA transformers, high-grade cranes and other equipment. It implies that the turnaround time to rectify faults when they occur and the downtime have been reduced.”
He mentioned other equipment delivered to the Lagos store to include circuit breakers, isolators, and aluminium conductors among others.
He added that the equipment is what TCN requires to ensure that the system becomes more stable.
With these, TCN can now ensure constant maintenance of the grid due to the availability of spares.
Also, expansion and promptly scheduled maintenance of the grid will ensure a more efficient and effective transportation of bulk electricity to distribution load centres nationwide for the benefit of Nigerians.
The projects, when completed, would further enhance the quality and stability of bulk supply as well as longer hours of power supply.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com