TCN delivers 22 power transformers, other transmission equipment to boost electricity in Lagos
By Ogaga Ariemu
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has delivered 22 new power transformers, spare parts and critical equipment to its Central Store in Ojo, Lagos to boost electricity.
The equipment described as the highest of such in the company’s history, comprise of 22 power transformers, haulage trucks, transmission switchyard spare parts, 45No. earthing transformers, Suspension Clamps, Vibration Dampers, Armor Rods, Circuit Breakers, Current transformer, Voltage transformers, 100tons Crane truck heads etc.
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 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.
He says, “We have seen loads of equipment that gives 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 equipment and electric scaffold mobile scissors among others”.
These he continued are “all 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 definitely being enhanced.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said that most of the equipment were procured for donor funded projects supported by the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), African Development Bank, among others.
Motorists and commuters in Ibadan are having a hard time as gridlocks caused by fuel queues hinder free vehicular movement in the Oyo State capital.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Sanni Olatunde, an employee of a private company, said no-one had been able to explain the cause of the fuel scarcity.
He said the situation had been a source of concern as every aspect of work life had been affected.
“Fuel stations sell at different prices per litre of petrol and there is no regulator to enforce the official rate of N165 per litre.
“We are fed up because we have to queue for a long time to get petrol,” Olatunde said.
Miss Opeyemi Oyewole, a doctoral student at the University of Ibadan said the scarcity had affected fares and further worsened the already bad economic situation of individuals.
“The amount of money I spend on transportation has increased by 50 per cent.
“It is also difficult to get commercial vehicles to one’s destination as most of them are either stuck in fuel stations or looking for fuel elsewhere.
“We hope a lasting solution will be found soon as the Yuletide period approaches,” Oyewole said.
Also speaking, Mr Sola Famakinwa, another resident said he struggled to get fuel so as to be able to take his children to school as they had started sitting for examinations.
He said the situation was getting worse by the day and wondered why government was not saying anything.
Mr Chris Mimiola, a civil servant said he had been at a fuel station for upwards of four hours without hope of getting fuel.
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, range from 60MVA up to 150MVA.
Speaking further, he said, “We have not seen this level of 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 on our 330kV circuit. We have the 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 aluminum conductors among others.
He added that the equipment is what TCN requires to ensure that the system becomes more stable.
