Osogbo: FG to sanction Chinese transformer manufacturers

By Etuka Sunday

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has threatened to sanction a Chinese Company, CBEA of China, the manufacturer of the 150MVA Transformer that caught fire at Oshogbo Transmission Region, in Oshogbo, Osun State, if investigations show that the product was sub-standard.

This, he said would serve as a deterrent to those other manufacturers of fake and sub standard products and equipment.

The Minister who was at the project site in Oshogbo over the weekend to assess the level of damage said that although the actual cause of the fire was yet to be determined by experts as investigation was on-going, he has been reliably informed that the fire must have been caused by installation failure, which may be from the sub-standard coils used in the transformer.

A visibly angry Minster said that his sadness is informed by the fact that a new 150MVA which will now be used to replace the damaged transformer which was originally meant for network expansion, to enhance power supply in the Osogbo region.

The Minister appealed to the communities that are affected by the fire incident for understanding, just as he assured them that full electricity supply would soon be restored to their area.

Professor Nebo used the occasion to commend the gallant efforts of the fire fighters, as they were able to stop the fire from consuming other transformers located in the premises.

Responding, the General Manager, Transmission, Oshogbo Region, Engr. Vincent Aligwara who took the Minister and his entourage round the Transmission said investigation was still on-going but promised that very soon the new 150MVA transformer would be energized to replace the burnt one.

Engr. Aligwara informed the Minister that through the effort of his staff, about 50MW of power was lost instead of 150MW.

He thanked the Minister for finding time out of his busy schedule to visit the station and urged him to assist the region in the provision of funds for its activities.