TCN boosts Delta grid with new 60/75MVA transformer

By Olakunle Oke

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has energized a 60/75 MVA power transformer at the Delta 132/33 kV Transmission Substation, adding 48 megawatts of bulk electricity to the grid. The just completed project, is expected to ease chronic power shortages in Delta State.

Communities such as Ndokwa, which have suffered more than 16 years without reliable electricity due to vandalism and unsettled bills, are among the areas that could benefit from the upgrade.

The development comes months after a dispute between TCN and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in March 2025. Then, TCN dismissed claims that it was responsible for prolonged supply disruptions, underscoring the sector’s deep-seated infrastructure and distribution challenges.

While grid upgrades are crucial, they often fail to translate into reliable supply in rural communities unless matched with reforms at the distribution level. A 2023 report in Energy Policy, stress the need for coordinated planning between transmission and distribution operators.

The timing of the energization also coincides with rising public agitation, including protests in Ndokwa and campaigns on social media demanding accountability from power authorities.

The true test of the new transformer lies in whether underserved communities such as Kwale and its environs will see tangible improvements in electricity supply.