… FG explores alternative source to restore power in North – Adelabu
By Onu Okorie
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN Sule Abdulaziz has disclosed that the Company has solicited the support of the Kaduna and the Nigeria Air force for unmanned aerial surveillance to help in protecting power assets protection across the country. This is following the incessant interference with the transmission lines, transmformer and other exposed power assets that has led to the grid system failure and blackout in the Northern parts of thye country in recent times. He stated this yesterday in a press conference in Abuja organised as part of the efforts to inform Nigerians about the efforts to address blackout in some parts of the country.
According to him, “They were four in number with three totally collapsed and one number twisted. Vandalism of Ugwuaji – Apir 330kV lines was reported on 21 October causing tripping of the lines. Trial re-closure failed and patrol revealed damaged conductors due to vandalism.”
“This outage severely affected the wheeling capacity of TCN. The area affected has been secured with help of the Nigerian Army and concerted effort is ongoing on one of the lines for restoration. Restoration of one of these lines will allow TCN to wheel about 400 MW of power in that corridor.”
“This will avail TCN to wheel substantial quantum of power through Apir to Jos to Kaduna to Kano. Conclusively, TCN is working with ONSA for security of personnel and site on Shiroro – Mando 330kV SC lines for commencement of rehabilitation of impacted towers in this axis.”
Efforts were made by using local vigilante who confirmed snap conductor on a tower but they could not identify the tower number. Arrangements were made to use the local group to escort our engineers in the night to effect repairs in order to evade the bandits in the location. Unfortunately, we did not succeed because the bandits got wind of our intentions and laid siege to the area.
This outage severely affected the wheeling capacity of TCN. The area affected has been secured with help of Nigerian Army and concerted effort is ongoing on one of the lines for restoration. Restoration of one of these lines will allow TCN to wheel about 400MW of power in that corndor. Also TCN is intensifying efforts to repair and restore the second line on UgwuajiApir on or by Sunday 3% November, 2024.
This will avail TCN to wheel sub stanual quantum of power through
Apir to Jos to Kaduna to Kano. Conclusively, TCN is working with ONSA for security of personnel and site on Shiroro — Mando 330kV SC hnes for commencement of rehabilitation of impacted towers in this axis.
On his part the Minister of Power Mr Adebayo Adelabu assured that power restoration efforts in the northern region of the country are ongoing, with electricity expected to be fully restored by the end of the week.
Nigeria “So, I can assure you that before the end of this week, light will be restored to the north. We are exploring alternative routes, we are hoping that in a matter of days, light will be restored to the north,” Mr Adelabu said. We are exploring alternative routes, we are hoping that in a matter of days, light will be restored to the north. So, I can assure you that before the end of this week, light will be restored to the north.
He announced several measures the government is taking to improve power supply across the country. Some of the measures include exploring the solar power, particularly in the North where he said that the government is considering building 100 mw solar power plant in each state in the North. He also said that the government is working towards full capacity utilisation of some hydro electricity.