The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, says its newly constructed Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kv transmission lines would add 600 megawatts to the national grid.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr Sule Abdulaziz, disclosed this on Thursday at the official commissioning of the newly constructed 330kv line at Ihovbor, Benin City.
Abdulaziz, who attributed the irregular power supply in the country to lack of evacuation of the generated power, assured that more of the power would now be evacuated with the commissioning of the lines.
He added that when more of the generated power are evacuated, more electricity would also be distributed to consumers in the country.
“Before there was power that was generated, but there was no evacuation. With this newly constructed 330kv line we are going to evacuate more power, meaning that Nigerians will get more light.
“Our own job is to transmit the power from the generators to the load units.It is the responsibility of distribution companies now to distribute to customers. When Distribution Companies distribute more power, more industries will get light and also residential people,” he said.
Abdulaziz described the commissioning as another milestone in the journey to strengthen the nation’s transmission network.
He said the project would enable TCN to evacuate more bulk electricity from Ihovbor transmission substation to distribution load centers nationwide.
According to him, TCN is determined to continue investing in the expansion of transmission infrastructure nationwide, stressing that the company is wants to build a grid that not only meets today’s demands, but also ready for the future.
“This project involves the strategic linking of the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission lines to the Ihovbor Transmission Substation, creating two new transmission routes with a total length of 14 kilometres.
“With the completion of this strategic project, we have increased the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthened the resilience of power delivery within the Benin corridor by this connection to the power plant.
“The importance of this project cannot be overstated. It grants TCN the ability to more efficiently evacuate power generated by the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company plant. This has equally helped in alleviating transmission bottlenecks, enhanced system reliability, while allowing the distribution companies access to more bulk electricity for its customers nationwide.
“With the nation’s grid system, the new transmission lines will enable more efficient wheeling of bulk electricity to any part of the country. Beyond the enhanced flexibility in power evacuation, this project is another step towards our goal of developing a strong and efficient transmission grid.
“It also showcases TCN’s dedication to ongoing improvement, innovation, and collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector. With the grid system, power generated from the Benin axis can easily be wheeled to any part of the country,” Abdulaziz added.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Energo company, Predrag Mihel, explained that the project included the construction of approximately 14 kilometers of 330kV double-circuit transmission line, comprising 30 towers and foundations including dead-end, angle and suspension towers.
In his goodwill message, the traditional ruler of Ihovbor/Evbueka, HRH Fortune Igbinakenzua, commended TCN for investing in the community.
Igbinakenzua, represented by Mr Imafidon Eliot, Secretary Ihovbor Community Working Committee, appealed to the company to establish its workstation in the community in order to provide employment opportunities for the indigenes.
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