TCN BOOSTS GRID NETWORK WITH NEW TRANSFORMERS

By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
In its effort to reinforce and improve the capacity and reliability of its transmission grid network, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has commissioned eight new 60MVA, 132/33kV Power Transformers, installed in various transmission stations nationwide.

This has increased transformation capacity on the 132kV network by 340MVA, thereby improving the quality of electricity supply as well as the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the people in the affected states. In a statement by the management of TCN, signed by its Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Dave Ifabiyi, the company in the first and second quarters of 2011, procured and installed eight new 60MVA, 132/33kV Power Transformers at the cost of N1.5billion.

TCN said that the eight new 60MVA, 132/33kV Power Transformers have already been energized in various transmission stations nationwide, such as the Port-Harcourt Town Transmission Station in Rivers State, Itu in Akwa-Ibom State, Katsina in Katsina State, Ayede in Oyo State, Birinin Kebbi in Kebbi State, Abakiliki in Ebonyi State and Kaduna Town in Kaduna State as well as Benin in Edo State.

Also, two of the new 60MVA, 132/33kV Power Transformers were installed in the Port-Hacourt town and Itu Transmission Stations in the first quarter of the year, increasing the capacity of both stations by 47.5MVA and 45MVA respectively.

The remaining six new 60MVA, 132/33kV Power Transformers being the second batch of transformer installations, were carried out in the second quarter of this year, in various transmission stations in six states; such as Katsina in Katsina State, Abakiliki in Ebonyi State, Kaduna in Kaduna State, Benin in Edo State, Ayede in Oyo State and Birinin Kebbi in Kebbi State.

Installation and commissioning works in the affected transmission stations were all completed in May, 2011, thereby increasing the capacity of each of the transmission stations with about 30MVA to 60MVA. The statement further said that TCN has continued to enhance the capacity and capability of its 330kV and 132kV Sub-stations as well as its 330kV and 132kV route length lines.

The company will soon take delivery of additional 11No 60MVA and six (6 No.) 10MVA Power Transformers, which would be installed in various locations in the country, to further boost evacuation capacity of the transmission grid.