By Oke Peter
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has delivered 22 brand new power transformers, spare parts and critical equipment to its Central Store in Ojo, Lagos. As more of the equipment arrive Lagos Port for onward delivery to the Store, for subsequent installation at various ongoing project sites across the country, some of the equipment would be kept in the store to serve as spares for future use.
A large number of the equipment still in the store was recently inspected by members of the Governing Board of TCN and Management. The massive and unprecedented stockpile of various kinds of transmission equipment presently are gradually being moved to project sites for maintenance, new projects and upgrading of existing transmission lines and substation.
The equipment described as the highest of such in the company’s history, comprise of 22 power transformers, haulage trucks, transmission switchyard spare parts, 45No. earthing transformers, Suspension Clamps, Vibration Dampers, Armor Rods, Circuit Breakers, Current transformer, Voltage transformers, 100tons Crane truck heads etc.
The Technical and Monitoring Committee of the Governing Board led by the Committee Chairman, Nsima Ekere, visited the Ojo Store as part of their two-day visit to Lagos Region where they inspected key power transmission substations as well as the Ojo Central Store.
After the equipment inspection, Mr. Ekere, lauded TCN for the record stock delivery to the store. His words: “We have seen loads of equipment that gives me hope that the new dawn that we have been expecting to see at TCN is here. We saw about 30 forklifts, mobile transformers, reconditioning facilities, all kinds of things, the conductors, isolators, several other equipment and electric scaffold mobile scissors among others”.
These he continued are “all to improve the capacity of TCN’s efficiency in doing their work. I am convinced that the transmission grid expansion project that TCN is presently executing is ongoing and I must also commend the World Bank and other donor agencies that are helping us with funding.”
Mr. Ekere said that with the massive stock at the TCN central store, the capacity of TCN to wheel power is definitely being enhanced.
Speaking on the quantum of equipment in the Ojo Central Store, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said that most of the equipment were procured for donor funded projects supported by the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), African Development Bank, among others.
Engr. Abdulaziz, noted that resources have been committed by Donor Agencies, assisting the transmission company in its grid expansion drive, the capacity of the transformers he said, range from 60MVA up to 150MVA.
Speaking further, he said: “We have not seen this level of massive supply of materials in TCN stores in the past, purely for network expansion and maintenance. We have 150MVA transformers which are very massive and will eventually be connected on our 330kV circuit. We have the 100MVA transformers, high-grade cranes and other equipment. It implies that the turnaround time to rectify faults when they occur and the downtime have been reduced.”
He mentioned other equipment delivered to the Lagos store to include circuit breakers, isolators, aluminum conductors among others. He added that the equipment is what TCN requires to ensure that the system becomes more stable.
With these, TCN can now ensure constant maintenance of the grid due to availability of spares. Also, expansion and prompt scheduled maintenance of the grid will ensure a more efficient and effective transportation of bulk electricity to distribution load centre’s nationwide for the benefit of Nigerians.
The projects, when completed, would further enhance the quality and stability of bulk supply as well as longer hours of power supply.
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