The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it is building capacity to transmit about 20, 000 mw of electricity before the end of 2021. The Interim Managing Director of TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed made the disclosure on Friday during a kick-off meeting for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study to build the second 330 kilovolt (kv) transmission line from Ikeja West in Lagos to Sakete in Benin Republic.
He said the project which is under the West African Power Pool (WAPP) in collaboration with New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Development Bank (ADB) would be completed before 2021.
He further disclosed that contrary to claims that the nation's transmission lines were obsolete and unable to transmit the generated power, TCN now has robust rehabilitation and expansion plan that has been endorsed by the Ministries of Power and Finance.
“TCN is no longer the weakest link in the power value chain as it is fast tracking the implementation of many power projects. The transmission rehabilitation and expansion programme seeks to expand the grid to about 20,000mw in the next three years. The second 330kv Ikeja West transmission line to Sakete in Benin Republic is necessary as the first could soon be constrained by the demand for more power from the Nigerian grid increase.”
He disclosed that the construction of the project would take 24 months while the ESIA would take six months. He assured that before 2021 the project would be ready for commissioning.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Engr. Louis Edozien assured that the Ministry was committed to providing electricity to the general public and called on Community Electric du Benin, the electricity firm of Benin Republic to urgently clear all outstanding debts.
“The ministry’s primary responsibility is to satisfy the electricity needs of Nigerians. We are committed to integrating the international electricity market but our primary responsibility is to satisfy Nigerians. Currently Nigerians are not satisfied. I use this platform to emphasise to CEB that the electricity debts that have accumulated needs to be settled quickly. It helps us explain to Nigerians why we should expand the supply by doing this kind of project," he added
