Shoring up plans to achieve reduction in power system collapse

The maximum wheeling capacity reached by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been 5,074.7 Megawatts; MW (attained February 2nd, 2016). TCN has however told the public that it has increased this capacity to 6,000mw of late. A situation that a lot of industry operators still doubt.

The government planned transmission capacity of 8,200Mw by 2018 and 10,000Mw by 2019. The transmission arm of the power supply value chain has been tagged the weakest link of the chain by operators. If the government is able to achieve this target then the country would experience a stable power system.

However operators in the power industry have said that as long as the fundamental issues and challenges that exist in the transmission arm of power sector value chain remain unresolved, the country would continue to experience acute power shortage.

They said while there has been some noticeable reduction in system collapse in the transmission network post privatisation, they are however concerned that the frequency is still high and a cause for worry.

Electricity operators more often than not attribute the poor state of the country’s power supply to TCN describing it as the weakest link in the power supply chain.

They are of the views that unless TCN is properly funded, its project management capacity upgraded, trained and competent personnel enlisted, it is fair to question the veracity of the constant assurances of possible foreign/donor investment in TCN.

Energy experts on their part opine that with Transmission still in the hand of government much would not change.

According to them, “We need to expand transmission capacity. Transmission should always lead generation. You can’t be generating 7,000 mega watts and be transmitting only 4,000. Transmission is in the hands of government that needs to change”

They suggested that if government wants to privatise TCN, they should go ahead. Most countries have moved away from this national grid structure. Most countries have their grids broken down into several segments so that you can have a northeastern grid and various grid connections. That is what we need to start exploring the idea of breaking down the grid and making sure that it works.

Analysts are of the views that the power value chain would applaud TCN’s ascendancy from being the weakest link in the supply of power to consumers. More funds is needed to be pumped into the system for adequate power delivery.

They opine that the government should ensure not just expansion but flexible transmission system. This can be achieved through breaking up the grid into regional networks. Interconnection between the regional networks will be done to guarantee the required flexibility. Also there is need for the dualisation of congested transmission networks to create relief.

“The implementation of (Super Grid) concept (a 745kv) networks being considered by the government is imperative as it would improve the efficiency of the network,”

“Any plans by TCN to complete 22 critical projects captured in the 2016 budget has to be a function of the availability and release of the requisite funding required for same”. They added.

From all indication, it is not clear that TCN has received, nor will it receive, any funding that comes close to enabling it complete the indicated projects –a continued legacy of limited and poor funding of a vital aspect of power infrastructure.

Industry operators argue that considering the importance of power as the fundamental ingredient for the growth of any economy, getting all the parts to work in sync is crucial.

KELECHI EWUZIE