London, Feb. 19, 2019 (AltAfrica)- The Transmission Company of Nigeria has installed and inaugurated a 300MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer in its Alaoji Transmission Substation in Abia State.

It has also delivered a 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer from the port in Lagos to Kumbotso Transmission Substation in Kano, to replace one of the four 150MVA transformers taken out for repairs.

TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said that the new 300MVA power transformer, which was energised on February 12, 2019, in the company’s Alaoji substation, had increased the station’s installed capacity from 450MVA to 750MVA, making it the biggest substation in the southern part of Nigeria and made the station consistent with redundancy requirement of N-1.

Mbah noted that with the development, TCN had increased its capacity to supply power to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company for onward supply to communities in Abia North, including Ohafia, Arochukwu, Item, Abriba.

She said supply had also increased to communities in Imo State such as Okigwe, Arondi-izuogu, as well as parts of Ebonyi and Rivers states.

TCN further stated that some projects under construction would also benefit from the newly energised 300MVA transformer.

It outlined some of the projects to include four 132kV substations at Okigwe in Imo State; Mbalano, Ohafia and Arochukwu in Abia State.

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“The newly energised 300MVA transformer will also enhance evacuation of power generated into the 132kV grid network from the Alaoji NIPP and Afam Power Stations. The installation of the transformer was carried out by Messrs Power Control with the active support of TCN engineers in Aba Sub-Region,” Mbah stated.

On the new 150MVA, 330/132/33kV transformer, Mbah said the power transmission equipment arrived Kumbtso Transmission Substation Kano on February 15, 2019, from the Apapa Port in Lagos.

She said installation would commence immediately the transformer was placed on a plinth, adding that the transformer was an addition to the recently repaired 150MVA power transformer which got burnt five years ago in Kumbotso Substation.

Mbah said, “It is noteworthy that this is the first time a badly damaged 150MVA transformer was repaired in the history of Nigeria power sector. As soon as the installation of the new 1X150MVA transformer is complete, the capacity of Kumbotso will become 4X150MVA and will further improve bulk power supply for onward delivery to Dakata, Wudil and Dan Agundi in Kano, Dutse and Hadeja in Jigawa, Azare in Bauchi, Katsina, Kankia, and Daura in Katsina and finally to Maradi and Gazawa in Niger Republic.”