The Nigeria government has completed a total of 105 Power Transformer projects between 2015 to 2022 adding a capacity of 6,216MVA to the national grid.
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu disclosed this at the 11th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Scorecard Series (2015-2023)’ organised to showcase the achievements of President Buhari’s Administration in Abuja
The Minister also disclosed that the ministry has repositioned the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative, PPI, and has begun to take delivery of critical equipment.
“You may recall that accelerated order were placed for 10 power Transformers and 10 power Transformers and 10 mobile substance with a delivery which begun September 22nd, so far 6 of the 10 power Transformers has arrived the shores of Nigeria and we have started installation in various locations while the remaining 4 are expected from January to April 2023,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu said to this end, the assessment of the power sector in Nigeria is beginning to wear a new look as the ministry is on a path to having a sustainable market that can pay for itself.
Reviewing the Nigerian electricity supply industry, the Minister said the ministry has a much healthier sector than the one which was inherited from the past Administrations.
The minister, who said that the 8,000MW comprises of 5,000MW on-grid and above 3,000MW of industrial captive off-grid, said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will leave an installed capacity of almost 22,000MW by the May 2023.
Recall that NERC in July activated a partial power agreement with key participants in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to raise power supply to 5,500MW.
However, generated has remained within the 4,000MW threshold while distribution is even lower than that.
“We will set the country on a stable path for 10,000MW of supplied energy (today we are at 8,000MW with 5,000MW on-grid and 3,000MW+ of industrial captive off-grid) and we will leave an installed capacity of almost 22,000MW. We also have robust programs ongoing with facilities and investments secured of over $3 billion to eliminate the large gap between our transmission capacity and supplied energy.
“We will complete and commission the 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power Plant in the 1st quarter of 2023. We will also see to the operationalization of the 240 MW Afam 111 and 300MW Okpai phase 11 to mention a few,” he said.
The minister, speaking further on the sector’s achievements in eight years, disclosed that it completed over 105 Power transformers projects between 2015 and 2022.
According to him, the projects added a capacity of 6,216MWs to the grid, with 73 of the power transformers installed by TCN engineers in substations across the nation.
He stated that the ministry has begun to take delivery of critical equipment under the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
“You may recall that accelerated orders were placed for 10 Power Transformers and 10 Mobile Substations, with a delivery schedule beginning Sep’2022.
“We have started installation in various locations while the remaining 4 are expected in December 2022 and January 2023.”
He noted that the Mobile Substations are expected from January 23 through to April 23.
On the National Mass Metering Programme, Mr Aliyu said plans for an additional six million meters under the second and third phases of the program are set to commence in the 1st quarter and 2nd quarters of 2023.
“We have executed the most successful metering program post privatisation with 1 million meters rolled out in the first phase of the National Mass Metering Program.”
He said the first phase generated 10,000 jobs in installation and assembly even as he noted that over 20,000 additional jobs would be generated in the second phase, as the feast had also changed the narrative of the power sector from consumption spending (on subsidies) to real infrastructure spending” he explained.
The Minister listed some of the completed Power Transformer/Substation projects to include: The 150MVA 330/132kV Interbus Power Transformer at Ughelli, Delta IV Transmission Substation and the 150MVA 330/132kV Power Transformer at Ayade Transmission Substation
Others were the 2x150MVA 330/132/33kV Substation at Lafia, Nasarawa State, and the 2x60MVA 132/33kV Dawaki/Gwarinpa Substation which was recently completed in November 2022 under the Abuja Feeding Scheme.
The projects also included the 2x60MVA 132/33kV Gagarawa Substation, 2x60MVA 132/33kV Substation at Adiabor, 2x30MVA 132/33kV Yelwa Yauri the1x30MVA 132/33kV Ilashe Substation and the 1x40MVA 132/33kV Substation at Bichi, Kano State among others.
According to the minister, a number of substations and bay extensions were nearing completion and were expected to be inaugurated by Q1/Q2 of 2023.
He said a total of 900km of reconductoring and construction of new transmission lines were completed during the period 2015 – 2022.
Some of the key lines, according to him, included reconductoring of 140km 132kV Birnin- Kebbi to Sokoto transmission line (April 2021) and completion of 330kV Aloji – Ikot Ekpene transmission line.
Others were the 132kV Ihovbor – Okada transmission line, completion of 330kV Gombe – Damaturu transmission line, among others.
The Minister said some transmission line projects nearing completion and expected to be inaugurated by Q1 and Q2 of 2023 included the Kaduna – Jos Double Circuit Transmission Line and Benin – Ajaokuta 330kV Single Circuit.
