The Nigerian Transmission Company (TCN) and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) experienced differences in the extent of power outages experienced by Abuja customers during the installation of a gas-insulated substation (GIS) in Gwarimpa.

Although TCN stated that the power supply will not be interrupted during the installation process completed on November 9, AEDC pointed out in its response that as approximately 100 MW has been cut from its distribution, it was forced to take load shedding measures. .

Ndidi Mbah, general manager of TCN Public Affairs, said that the new 2x60MVA substation is part of TCN's efforts to strengthen the high-voltage transmission loop project around Abuja, which will increase the large amount of electricity provided by Abuja Disco to customers in the Abuja metropolitan area.

“During the 14-day installation period, the large-capacity power supply to Abuja AEDC will not be affected, because TCN has developed sufficient plans to ensure that AEDC’s power supply is maintained.

"This means that the installation of TCN's new GIS substation will not affect the bulk supply of Abuja Disco for its customers. After the completion of the Gwarimpa GIS substation project and the circuit, it will increase the large-capacity power supply in Abuja and surrounding areas," TCN said.

However, AEDC, through its spokesperson Oyebode Fadipe, singled out the loopholes in the TCN report, saying that its load in certain areas of Abuja has been significantly reduced by 65% ​​of the daily load after the project started.

As a result of the TCN exercise, he stated that AEDC Plc can only extract 40MW from the 140MW received so far from TCN for distribution to customers who are fed from the Kubwa 2 X 60MVA 132/33kV transmission station (AT4).

Kubwa substation serves the 33kV injection substations of Dawaki, Bwari, Deidei and Kubwa in Abuja. 40MW is shared by Suleja and Kubwa transmission stations on a 20MW basis.

“In order not to completely cut off the feeder, the load carried by the Kubwa 2 X 60MVA 132/33kV substation has been transferred to the Suleja transmission station, which has led to the massive load reduction currently experienced by AED Plc customers from the above-mentioned feeder power,” he said.

The distribution company lists the affected areas as Dawaki, Deidei, Kubwa, Gbazango, Suleja, Gwagwa, Iddu Karmo, Life Camp and parts of Gwarinpa, I-Pent Estate, EFAB Metropolis and Mab-Global Estate.

Other affected areas include Zuba, Kaduna Road, Bwari, Dutse, Lower Usman Dam, Dantata Estate, Kubwa, Zuma, Gauraka, Dikko, Deidei International Building Materials Market and surrounding areas.

At the same time, TCN stated that it is still changing the old 132kV Ikeja West-Alimoso-Ogba-Alausa-Ota-Papalanto 240MW transmission line to a new large-capacity 500MW transmission line to solve the problem of poor power supply in Ikeja West/Papalanto. Lagos State Of the axis.

At present, the total installed capacity of the five power stations along the line is 570MW, but due to the small size of the old transmission line, it can only provide 240MW.

The company said that as the population and social and economic activities in the area continue to increase, the demand for electricity will continue to grow. If the lines are not upgraded, the area will soon be unable to supply electricity.

Taking into account the importance of power supply, TCN stated that it is changing the line from 8 am to 5 pm every day, and the light is restored from 6 pm to 8 am every day. It is expected that this development will continue for another four weeks starting from last week. .