We have received USD1.66 billion to boost power supply in Nigeria – TCN

Last updated: 2019/07/12 at 3:38 PM

starconnect Published 12 July 2019

MD/CEO TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed (2nd right) Deputy Director, Press, Etore Efiom Thomas (first right) with other members of the Power Sector Communication Team after the meeting

Admin l Friday, July 12, 2019

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Gur Mohammed has said that the Company was working in tandem with the Federal Government’s goal of providing adequate electricity to consumers in the country and that it had upgraded, rehabilitated, completed and commissioned several new substations, power transformers as well as transmission lines nationwide in the past couple of years, in line with the Company’s Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP).

The MD/CEO said this Wednesday in his office in Abuja while hosting the July 2019 Meeting of the Power Sector Communication Team.

He said before TCN was seen as the weakest in the value chain but today, the company had shown significant shift in the way transmission issues are handled.

He disclosed that TCN is effectively collaborating and co-operating with donor agencies to reinforce the system under the critical investment programme. The MD said the Company has received 1.66 billion dollars from multi-lateral donors to boost power supply in the country.

“As at today, the amount we have raised from multi-lateral donors has risen to 1.66 billion dollars to execute some power projects in the country. “These projects include the Abuja Wheeling Scheme that will bring five sub-stations and bring a new supply route to the territory. “The new route will be from Lafia to Abuja with 330 Kilo Volt (KV) line and two 330KV sub-stations in Abuja and put additional three numbers 132 KV sub-stations in the territory,’’ Mohammed said

He noted that in spite of the massive investments so far recorded by the sector from the transmission end, the distribution companies were yet to match it with a proportional upgrade of their equipment. He pointed out that power distribution companies require $4.3bn to recapitalize in order to effectively invest in their networks nationwide and improve electricity supply, saying “We have written to the government to recapitalize Discos. $4.3bn is required to stabilize the Discos”

According to Mohammed, the company has also recovered 775 power equipment containers out of 800 abandoned at the ports due to tariff related issues.

While appreciating the Power Sector Communication Team (PSCT) for the work they are doing, Mohammed charged them to make judicious use of the communication tools to bring about attitudinal and behavioral change in the citizenry as regards the sector.