TCN sacks CEO, power generation to drop by 826MW
The board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria has fired its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Don Priestman, and has appointed a new CEO to manage the firm.
Although no official reason was given the termination of Priestman, sources at TCN told our correspondent that “internal wrangling, lack of cooperation and many other issues,” warranted the abrupt sacking.
Before his removal, Priestman, international expert, headed Manitoba Hydro International, the firm employed by the Federal Government to manage the country’s electricity transmission company.
A statement on Friday by the General Manager, TCN, Mrs. Seun Olagunju, did not state why Priestman’s appointment was terminated. It rather reeled out the qualifications of the newly appointed TCN boss.
Olagunju, in the statement said the “board of the TCN has approved the appointment of Mr. Mack Kast as the new Managing Director/CEO.
“The appointment of the new MD was approved during the fourth meeting of the board, held in the company’s headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. By this appointment, Kast has replaced the former MD/CEO, of TCN, Mr. Don Priestman.”
Meanwhile, the TCN stated that it would be carrying out “urgent unavoidable repair works” on its 330KV transmission line from Onitisha in Anambra State to Alaoji in Abia State on Saturday.
It said the repairs would last from 9am to 12noon.
It said, “Consequently, the Afam VI, River IPP, Ibom Power and Afam IV Power Stations will be shut down, resulting in 826MW reduction in generation output.
“During this period, Abia, Cross River, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states will experience outage. However, power supply will be restored as soon as repair works are completed at 12noon.”
[Punch]