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TCN expands transmission capacity to 7,000MW

By BusinessNews Staff on February 6, 2014

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has expressed readiness to transmit 7,000 megawatt of electricity sequel to massive expansion work on the country’s transmission lines. The transmission lines initially had the capacity to transmit 5,000 megawatt of electricity that would be generated from Generation Companies, GENCOs.

According to the Presidential Task Force on Power, Nigeria’s peak generation currently stands at 3,600 megawatts, although the country hopes to generate above 5,000 megawatts, TCN said it is ready for transmission. TCN General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs. Seun Olagunju said the company currently has the capacity to transmit 7,000 megawatts of electricity.

Commenting on the recent drop in power supply, Olagunju said some of the power plants were shut down for maintenance purposes, re-iterating that maintaining the nation’s power plants is aimed at improving power supply. She said the shutdown of Shiroro plant was necessary so as to allow the engineering maintenance crew to rectify faults on the station’s carbon dioxide control panel.

Recall that Kainji power plant with installed capacity of 760 megawatts, was shut down as a result of multiple faults that affect the eight units. Kainji’s 1G5, 1G7, 1G8, 1G9 and 1G10 units were also shutdown as a result of rehabilitation and faults of various type.

600megawatts Shiroro Hydro plant was also out due to ongoing repairs and overhaul, but later came back on stream after repairs was carried out.Also the 507megawatts Sapele NIPP, went out completely due to gas constraints, loading problem and civil work on its basement.

The 1,131megawatts Alaoji NIPP was also shut down following a water injection test of GT1 unit while GT2 unit was shut after 72 hours performance test.For the 500megawatts Olorunsogo NIPP plant, it was similarly out due to gas constraints and maintenance routine after a commissioning test.

It was also reported that GT1-3 and ST1 units of the plant were out due to gas constraints while the ST3 unit was shut down after a commissioning test and the GT4 unit was down for maintenance purpose.The 150megawatts Omoku IPP was reported for not generating electricity to the grid due to collapsed towers on the Omoku/Port Harcourt mains 132kv lines.

Trans-Amadi IPP had its GT1 and 3 units out as result of faults, while GT2 and 4 units tripped due to reversed power.

On the issue of TCN/Manitoba management contract, Mrs. Olagunju explained that there is harmonious working relationship between the duo. She stated that Manitoba signed a contract to manage TCN for three years, adding that it has been a healthy working relationship as against what was reported

However, the National Assembly had urged the Federal Government to equally unbundle the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) like the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), to make it more efficient and also called for a total review of the contract agreement government entered into with Manitoba.

Senate Committee on Power chair, Senator Philip Aduda and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Patrick Ikhariale, had since called for the agreement documents to enable it study the grey areas that negate the principle of Nigerian content which gave the company an advantage to the detriment of Nigerian experts in the sector.

Aduda said, “we need to ensure that apart from Manitoba Hydro International managing the transmission sector, we must have the technical counterpart, because they are here as management partners.

“We have demanded for copies of the agreement so that we can proffer solutions to the lingering problem. We must look at that agreement because the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), was there and must remember most of those aspects in question,” Aduda stated.

[Vanguard]

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