The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday announced the addition of 600 megawatts to the national grid following the completion of a major transmission project in Edo State.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, disclosed this during the official commissioning of the Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In-Turn-Out Transmission Line Project.
Abdulaziz said the project marked another milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s transmission network and improve the evacuation of bulk electricity from the Ihovbor Transmission Substation to distribution load centres across the country.
The TCN boss said the project involved linking the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line to the Ihovbor Transmission Substation.
He said the connection created two new transmission routes with a total length of 14 kilometres.
Abdulaziz said, “This project involves the strategic linking of the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line to the Ihovbor Transmission Substation, creating two new transmission routes with a total length of 14 kilometres.
“With the completion of this strategic project, we have increased the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthened the resilience of power delivery within the Benin corridor through this connection to the power plant.”
Abdulaziz said the project would allow TCN to evacuate power more efficiently from the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company plant.
He said the development would help reduce transmission bottlenecks, improve system reliability and give distribution companies access to more bulk electricity for customers nationwide.
He added, “The importance of this project cannot be overstated. It grants TCN the ability to more efficiently evacuate power generated by the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company plant.
“This has equally helped in alleviating transmission bottlenecks, enhanced system reliability, while allowing the distribution companies access to more bulk electricity for their customers nationwide. With this, we have added 600 megawatts to the national grid.”
The TCN MD said the grid system would make it possible for power generated from the Benin axis to be transmitted to any part of the country.
He said, “With the grid system, power generated from the Benin axis can easily be wheeled to any part of the country.”
Abdulaziz added that the project would improve flexibility in power evacuation and support the development of a stronger and more efficient transmission grid.
He said the project also showed TCN’s commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector.
Abdulaziz added, “Beyond the enhanced flexibility in power evacuation, this project is another step towards our goal of developing a strong and efficient transmission grid. It also showcases TCN’s dedication to ongoing improvement, innovation, and collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector.
“Before, there was power that was generated without evacuation, but now we are going to evacuate more power, which means Nigerians would be getting a more powerful supply.”