Why TCN’s 9,000MW increased power projection looks promising

Things appear to be looking up across the entire power sector value chain this 2018 if current happenings are anything to go by.

The often negatively talked about sector with its avalanche of problems in generation, transmission and distribution appears to have turned the corner at least on the transmission end.

In the last three decades, the poor performance of the electricity power sector in Nigeria has significantly impacted investment in the country and has in no small way hampered development.

The visible historic gap between the demand for electricity and the available capacity has often led to power shortage, inefficiency, self-generation of power by both industrial and residential consumers.

Those who understand the Industry and how it operate have repeatedly opined that with the performance of the sector characterised by its low capacity generation; high costs; inadequate distribution of electric power; inability to finance new or expanded infrastructure, urgent steps is required to step up the game.

In a perceived response to that, at least from the Transmission stand point, Usman Gur Mohammed, Interim Managing Director Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, disclosed that the government owned TCN has set in motion plans to increase the wheeling capacity of the national grid from 7000 megawatts to 9000MW before the end of 2018.

According to the managing director, the company intends to embark on massive re-conductoring of transmission lines which is expected to significantly increase the wheeling capacity of TCN.

To the TCN boss, they are already in discussion with World Bank to use the balance under Nigeria Electricity and Gas Improvement Project, NEGIP, to procure the conductors.

“The Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme, TREP, which you strongly supported seeks to stabilise, expand and provide the needed flexibility to the Distribution Companies, DisCos, for them to effectively supply their customers.” He said.

Industry close watchers are of the views that if TCN make good their plans and follow through the implementation of its ongoing Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP), power wheeled to the grid will be expanded significantly.

This renewed zeal by TCN no doubt is backed up by support from World Bank funding. Aside that European Union has also pledged to provide €25 million grant to support TCN on solar Integrated Power Programme’s (lPP’s) evaluation.

Reports indicate that several projects across the country were at various stages of commissioning between now and January 31, 2018, which is expected to add more than 1,000 MW to the current peak of 5,155.9 MW.

Furthermore, Nigerian Electricity Transmission Access Project (NETAP) which is one of the projects under the TREP had successfully been negotiated and finalised with the World Bank on December 8, 2017.

It will be recalled that TCN has within the year, entered into collaboration with several partners aimed at repositioning it for better service delivery; the Agip/NNPC joint venture in respect of towers 94 & 98 on Okpai-Onitsha DC Line, provision of GIS for TCN, collaboration with Japan Government on capacitor banks in Apo and Keffi substations and the rehabilitation of Apapa, Akangba and 15010 substations. Discussions are on-going with government of Japan, to rehabilitate Ikeja West and Ota substations.

KELECHI EWUZIE