…. Clear Stranded Equipment Containers at the Ports
The Nigerian Power industry has achieved yet another national peak of 5,222.3MW of electricity effectively transmitted in the national grid at a frequency of 50.24Hz by 9pm, December 18, 2017.
In a statement signed by the GM Public Affairs Ndidi Mbah, TCN said that this milestone achievement, is the highest ever recorded in the nation’s power sector to-date. This surpassed the 5,155.9MW achieved December 8, 2017 at 2200Hrs, and the earlier peak of 5,074.70MW, achieved February 2, 2016 at 2100Hrs.
The statement noted that the gradual but steady increase in the nation’s power sector is attributable to the keen interest of the current administration of President Mohammadu Buhari in piloting programmes and projects geared towards growing the Power Sector, in line with its strategy on incremental power.
At the 22nd Power Sector Stakeholders Meeting, the Minister of Power Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola assured that the current synergy among the Presidency, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and other major power sector stakeholders working through the Power Sector Recovery Program (PSRP) would continue to deliver improved power supply to the people.
To properly key into the incremental power strategy, TCN said that it had developed the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion programme to enable it prioritize and execute critical transmission projects. This necessitated the clearing of the company’s stranded containers carrying various transmission equipment at the sea ports, to enable it complete previously abandoned and on-going projects to further expand its grid capacity.
Of the 759 containers abandoned by contractors at the sea ports within the last five years, 454 have been cleared from January to-date. 193 are being processed for clearing while 112 are still outstanding.
TCN further explained that of the 454 containers and packages cleared from the ports, 132 containers have been moved to sites for the construction of Yola-Gulak, Katsina –Malumfashi, kaduna –Jos, Dambatta and Keffi –Kachia 132kV Double Circuit (DC) transmission lines. 71 containers were moved to construction sites of Ganmo –Ogbomosho, Ganmo – Shonga, New Abeokuta – Lanlate DC transmission lines and for Ganmo lines bay extension works. Also 44 containers were moved to site for the Onitsha – New heaven 132kV transmission line, while 126 of the containers are now at the construction site of the Benin North – Oshogbo transmission line.
For containers bearing materials for substation and transformer projects, TCN has also cleared from the ports, 9 containers for work at the Onitsha Transmission Station, a total of 16 containers for transmission substations in Odoguyan, Ede, Igangan, Igbora and Okene. Meanwhile 55 containers have also been taken to Walalambe, Akwanga, Kachia, Kunmostso, Kaduna and Yola transmission substations, while one container containing transformer equipment was also cleared.
The statement further said that the containers have been abandoned at the port for between 2 to 6years by contractors, for various reasons including suspension of TCN Import Duty Exemption Certificate in 2013, by the Ministry of Finance. The result was uncompleted transmission projects in various parts of the country.
TCN reiterated its commitment to continue to work to further stabilize, rehabilitate and expand the grid and called on Nigerians to work with the sector in safeguarding electricity installations nationwide.