By Fred Ojiegbe
As part of its support and interventions to the development of the National Grid, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recently received some transmission equipment spare parts at its Port-Harcourt Regional Office, Rivers State. The spares are for the prompt replacement of faulty parts and for maintenance in TCN substations within the region.
The parts comprise Circuit Breakers, Isolators, Batteries, Battery Chargers, Relays, Lightning Arresters, etcetera. These provide ready maintenance equipment for TCN engineers to respond rapidly to the need to change parts due to fault, in order to ensure minimal equipment downtime and enhance bulk power delivery in substations within the region.
This is sequel to the massive project implementation drive in the region, which is in line with the ongoing execution of the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme (NERGMERP) of the present Management of TCN.
Some of the ongoing and completed projects in Port Harcourt Region are:
The Construction of 2x60MVA 132kV Substation at Ugep (GF), the Upgrading of Itu 132kV Substation (BF), the Rehabilitation and Upgrade of 132/33KV switchyard at Port Harcourt Mains TS, the Expansion of 33kV Switchyard with 3 outgoing feeders at Port Harcourt Mains TS, Installation of 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer at Port Harcourt Mains TS and the Building of 132KV Control Room at Port Harcourt Town TS. TCN has also commenced the construction of new 132kv control building in Afam 1-3, as well as the construction of 330kv control building in Afam 4 and Afam 5 TS, among others.
The Company is also working on the construction of 2x60MVA 132/33kv Station at Oron and another construction of 2×30/40MVA 132/33kv Substation at Ididep
However, TCN was able to complete some project, such as the reclamation of TCN RoW between T8-T9 and replacement of stolen counterpoise cables on Onitsha/Alaoji 330kv single line, as well as the construction of a new 330kv control building in Afam 5, the construction of junk yard (stores) in Owerri Works Centre.
TCN has also completed the mechanized line tracing maintenance project on Alaoji-Umuahia 132kv Double Circuit line (T1-T172) as well as that of Afam Sub-Region IPP 132kv transmission line (T1-T27).
The company also has a line of Proposed Projects in Port Harcourt and they include; the Installation of 60MVA 132/33kv Transformer at Rumuosi TS, the construction of 132/33kv TS at Yenagoa and the installation of 60MVA Transformers with 4nos feeders at Elelenwo TS.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has also completed many projects in its Kaduna Region.
The projects are being executed in all the States under the TCN Kaduna Region, which includes Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi States. The Region is in charge of the 330kv line supply power to Niamey in Niger Republic.
Within the last three years, several projects have been executed in this Region; some of them are completely new, while others are the upgrade of existing infrastructure such as new line projects or lines reconductoring.
Also, the execution of new substations or upgrading with new transformers and connecting them to the transmission network.
TCN has also procured and delivered transformer accessories and other spares to the region to enable it function more efficiently and to ensure prompt attendance to fault.
As is with other Regions of TCN, the Kaduna region is diligently pursuing projects within the Region in line with the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP) of the present Management of TCN.
Some of the completed projects in the Region are: the installation of a 60MVA, 132/33kv transformer in Gusau Substation, Zamfara State, the installation and commissioning of 330/132/33kv line isolator at Zaria Substation and a new distance protection relays for 330kv Jos line at Mando-Kaduna Town Substation as well as the Conversion of 33kv underground secondary armoured cable to overhead aluminium conductor on 60MVA 132/33kv transformer at Kaduna Town Substation.
Some ongoing projects by the Company include; the construction of 132kv bay extension at Mando transmission Substation, the construction of a new 330/132/33kv transmission sub-station in Jaji, and that of a new 132/33kv Jaji transmission Substation and the construction of new 330/132/33kv transmission sub-station in Millennium Kaduna town.
The Company is also Constructing a new 132/33kv transmission substation in Mahuta, a 2x330kv line bays at Sokoto new 330kv substation, the construction of transmission substation in Sokoto comprising 2x150MVA power transformers with 4x330kv line bays and outgoing feeders, the construction of 2x60MVA transmission substation with 6No. outgoing feeders in Sokoto State, the construction of 2x150MVA transmission substation in Sokoto State with 4No 330kv line bays and 2x60MVA power transformers with 6No 33kv outgoing feeders, the construction of 150MVA transmission substation at Kalgo with 8x330kv line bays and 100MVA power transformer with 3No 33kv outgoing feeders and that of a 2x60MVA transmission substation at Fakon-Sarki.
Some of the ongoing transmission line projects include: the Construction of double circuit line from Kaduna to Jos, the construction of new 330kv 204km Double Circuit CCT Quad Conductor transmission line from Mando to Rimin Zakara, Kano, the construction of 330kv Double Circuit transmission line from Birnin-Kebbi to Sokoto and the construction of 145km 330kv Double Circuit transmission line from New Kalgo Transmission Substation to New Sokoto Transmission Substation.
TCN maintained that despite the challenges it faces, its goal is to put in place a very robust transmission grid comparable to any other, anywhere in the world.