FEC approves $29.4m, N8.4bn for two power transmission projects

Oredola Adeola

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved  a total of $29.4million, and N8.4billion for two power transmission projects which includes; contract for design, supply and installation of 1x60MBA, 132×33 KV transmission substation with associated 4×132 KV line bay extension, in Adamawa and procurement of 33KV power transformers and associated spare parts for TCN to be deployed to six locations.

Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power, made this known after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Aliyu said that the projects were aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) to prepare ground for evacuation of power when generation peaks more than 9000MegaWatt.

The Minister said, “I presented two memos to council which were later approved; the first memo that the approved was the award of contract for design, supply and installation of 1x60MBA, 132×33 KV transmission substation with associated 4×132 KV line bay extension at Hong local government, Adamawa in the sum of N6.5 billion consisting of two components one is offshore and onshore.

“The offshore is 6.9 million dollars and the onshore is N3.3 billion at the CBN prevailing exchange rate and 7.5 per cent VAT; the delivery period is 24 months.

“This seeks to raise the capacity of the supply around that area, especially towns and villages including Mudi, Woba, Michika, Madagari, and covering all the important local government headquarters including Song,  Gombi and Hong, all in Adamawa State.

“There is an existing 132 that passes through this location; so, we are developing a substation there. The target is to put something in place to receive power from the generating plants when they reach  11,000MW or about.”

The second memo, according to the Minister, was meant to procure power transformers and associated spare parts for TCN to be deployed to six locations.

“One is to Aiyede in Oyo; Offshore component 1.8 billion dollars, the onshore is N98 million.

`The second one is Gusau in Zamfara; the third one is Kankia in Katsina state; the next one is Minna, Niger; then the fifth one is to Okearo in Ogun.

“The sixth one is in Damaturu, Yobe; this one is very peculiar because as you may be aware, for over one year, Maiduguri has not been enjoying full electricity.

“We were able to take electricity supply through an old line of 33 KVa which was repaired and restored and were able to evacuate 10MW to Maiduguri over 130 kilometers on a 33 single circuit.

“We restored that around three to four months or so; so they are enjoying but very little; by the time the electricity reaches Maiduguri, it will drop to 6 to 7MW because of losses along the way,” the Minister said.

Aliyu further revealed that the 330kva that evacuated power to Maiduguri was vandalised by insurgents repeatedly last year. According to him, the ministry tried a number of times to restore it but the insurgents would go back and pull down the towers.

Aliyu said, “So, we now decided, in the meantime, to take electricity through the 33 kva which they are enjoying but not as they may like it to be. It’s being rationed around the time.

“So, we are currently procuring another 33kva double circuit new transmission to Maiduguri along the same route.
“So the idea is if someone tampers with it, it is easy to restore it within a day or two, unlike the bigger one which is the 330kva which takes weeks or months to restore because it’s in the bush.

“Present we have been doing hide and seek, whenever they are installed. Sometimes they will pull one or two poles, we will repair and this is why we are doing this endeavour by the roadside; this is meant to keep on restoring back when hit.”

Engr Aliyu however noted that the contractor has been mobilised to restore the main 330kva line, which was vandalised last year.

The Power Minister further said that power would be transmitted from the substation in Damaturu to its environs, while others would be evacuated to Maiduguri, thereby boosting the capacity of Damaturu substation.

He said, “So, the sixth one which is at the cost of 6.7 million dollars while the local component is N1.3 billion for the Damaturu upgrade injection transformer.”

The Power Minister however noted that the total fund approved by the council  for these projects was 22. 6 million dollars and N5.1 billion.