By Abdul lawal
The Federal Government has revealed plans to boost transmission capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with additional 1000 megawatts (MW) through the Abuja Ring Project.
The minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, said this while inspecting the Abuja Ring Project yesterday, also said that the first mega transformer under the presidential power initiative (PPI) in the Siemens power project will be installed in Abuja next week.
Aliyu, who inspected the projects along with the managing director of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, said that the projects which are six in number were made up of lines and substations,
adding that when completed it will increase TCN’s wheeling capacity with over 1000 Megawatts (MW).
He said the Abuja ring project is funded through a $170 million loan from the French Development Agency, and its spread across Abuja to boost electricity supply.
“The project is about six and they are over 90 per cent completed and hope to be completed Nov, Dec, the contractor is chasing the completion date and when completed it will increase power supply in Abuja and environ.
“This project is funded by a loan of $170 million dollars from the French Development Agency (AFD) and started by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2018 in the quest to increase the capacity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” he said.
The minister said that the projects consist of a new substation in Dawaki, Gwarimpa, New Apo substation, Old Apo existing substation amongst others.
According to him, there has been a 132 Kilovolt (KV) line existing from Suleja to Katampe which initially was at Kubwa.
He said the new substation would give Dawaki and environ more electricity as they have been depending on Kubwa.
“The new Apo substation is a new one and is receiving a 330 KVA line from Nasarawa to boost supply in Abuja and environ,” he said.
Speaking on the Siemens Power Project, the minister said that some engineers would be going to France before the end of the month to do a factory test on some transformers.
He said that a platform had been built at Old Apo Substation to receive a 60 Megavolt Ampere transformer from the Siemens Power Project and that in a couple of days, it will be installed.
Mr Aliyu said that some of the transformers were already in the country and some on the high sea.
According to him, the mobile substation with so many components will start coming in January 2023 as they are being tested along with other transformers.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the government is doing a lot to improve power