By Usman Shuaibu
In line with the Federal Government objective of constant electricity supply nationwide, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is sending 60 engineers to train in China for mass production of transformers for consumers.
The engineers will later run the proposed Transformer Manufacturing Line and High Voltage Testing Laboratory, which is located in Power Equipment and Electrical Machinery Development Institute (PEEMADI) in Okene.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna said the agency has been producing transformers manually and using traditional technology but will now want to learn the modern form of transformer production using computers.
He said the other component of the training is high voltage testing which is of great benefit. He said Nigeria will no longer take samples of faulty transformers abroad for analysis and information.
Haruna made these disclosures yesterday in Abuja at the orientation training programme for the Engineers before their departure to China.
He said with the facility the power industry and independent power producers can go to the facility to ascertain their situation without having to pay heavily for testing and certification abroad.
He said: “Already in the power equipment and electrical development institute of NASENI, we are producing transformers manually and using traditional technology but the world has gone advanced. We are just going to learn the modern way of using computer for designing and manufacturing.
“It is not just China that supplies transformers to Nigeria, transformers used in Nigeria come from all countries so we don’t have national standard.
“If we learn the processes of design and production we won’t continue producing their own model, we will design and produce our own Nigerian standard and models. The other component of this training is high voltage testing technology.
“There is no successful power industry without high voltage testing laboratory. Currently, with a lot of faults happening in our power system we will have to take samples abroad for analysis and information. Now this facility will be used to help the power industry and the independent power producers to ascertain their situation without having to pay heavily for testing and certification abroad.
“Already the Standards Organization of Nigeria comes to us for certain services because of competence and laboratory facilities.
“By the time we have this laboratory; it is not just companies in Nigeria that will be coming to us for services but neighboring countries.
“The package of the project is not just training; the trainees will come back and help install the infrastructure. The package is provision of manufacturing facilities and training of capable hands to operate the facilities. They will install the facilities and run it “The trainees with excellent performance have the opportunity to acquire postgraduate specifications such as postgraduate diploma, masters and any degree depending on the level because the training organizations are in good cooperation and working relationship with Chinese National Technical University where this training is taking place.
“The syllabus of the training is put together by the factory, university and Nigeria because we know what we need.”
On his part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu said the China Great Wall is providing 85% of funding, leaving Nigeria with just 15%.
He said Mr. President said he wants to lift one million Nigerians out of poverty and this is the step.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
