By Kelechi Onwujuba
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has added 70MVA to the capacity of its Alausa Transmission Substation in Lagos with the commissioning of a new 1x100MVA, 132/33kV transformer.
The upgrade takes the substation’s total capacity from 135MVA to 205MVA and is expected to improve electricity supply to Alausa and surrounding communities.
Speaking at the commissioning on Tuesday, TCN Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the transformer would serve at least 70,000 residents through the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company when energised.
The new unit replaces the substation’s former 1x30MVA, 132/33kV transformer, giving the facility an additional 70MVA capacity to handle increasing load demand.
Beyond Alausa, Abdulaziz said the project would enable TCN to wheel more bulk electricity to distribution load centres across the country.
He said the increased transmission capacity would also support grid stability by allowing more bulk power to reach distribution companies for onward delivery to consumers within their franchise areas.
“Beyond serving the immediate community, this upgrade meaningfully increases the quantum of bulk power that TCN can wheel to distribution load centers nationwide,” Abdulaziz said.
The project was executed by Shanghai Electric Ltd under a World Bank-funded initiative which started in January 2021.
Abdulaziz said TCN remained committed to delivering critical transmission infrastructure despite the difficulties encountered during the implementation of the project.
He described the Alausa upgrade as part of the company’s mandate to build and maintain a transmission network capable of moving Nigeria’s growing power needs to distribution centres nationwide.
The TCN boss also said the project reflected the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the continued leadership and guidance of the Minister of Power towards achieving steady progress in the electricity sector.
“This achievement aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and reflects the continued visionary leadership and guidance of the Honourable Minister of Power in ensuring a systematic and steady progress in the power sector,” Abdulaziz said.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Minister of Power, the World Bank, Lagos State Government, Shanghai Electric Ltd, TCN engineers and other stakeholders for their support in delivering the project.
Abdulaziz said the participation of stakeholders at the commissioning underscored the collective effort required to secure a stable and reliable electricity supply for Nigerians.
