TCN takes over Akute transmission station

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at the weekend fully handed over the newly built largest power transmission plant in Nigeria to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

NDPHC, the operator, of the National Integrated Power Project NIPP, projects had commissioned the plant located in Oke-Aro community, Ogun State last year, but completely handed the plant to TCN having completed the provisions of the contract.

The TCN is therefore expected to fully utilise the state-of-the-art facility to improve power supply to Nigerians.

The Deputy General Manager, Civil Field Operations, NDPHC/NIPP, Claudius Ogunrinde, said: “The project has been completed and commissioned, and the company has been running it under the provisions of the contractual terms. Today marks the proper and complete handover

of the facility to the TCN.

“We are here to examine the effectiveness of what we have done about a year ago and some of the factors listed to be improved upon, and we have seen that most of them have been done and the job is excellently executed to the RFP specified standard, he said.

He explained that the TCN was allowed to take partial control of the facility since last year with a clause in other to acquaint them with the technology and ensure that the plant start serving Nigerians.

“The clause was that: In case any of the equipment has problem, they have a warrantee for one year, the contractor that did the job (EPC,) should also be around to help solve the problem and guide the staff on how to run the station without problems, so the warranty is over today and it becomes the baby of TCN completely,” he said.

TCN Boss, Engr Adeoye, assured that the station would boost power supply to Lagos and Ogun states significantly and ease off the load on Ikeja West transmission station at Ayobo, Lagos.

He said: “The quality of the job done on the station is perfect. Its one of the best stations we are inheriting, and I hope it will serve us properly in Lagos.

“The station is going to relieve Lagos region, because the bulk of power we consume in Lagos is around Ikeja Industrial Area, and we all share the power from Ikeja West. Now that we have this, Ikeja area is going to be satisfied abundantly, which means there will be relieve in the other parts of Lagos. So, it will have effect on the whole of Lagos.