Fashola: TCN to commission over 90 projects to expand grid capacity

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, on Monday said Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has over 90 ongoing projects to be commissioned in 2018 to expand grid capacity.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new 2x60mva, 132/33kv Odogunyan Transmission Substation in Lagos, Fashola said that transmission sector of the power value chain was a major beneficiary of the present administration.
” I can tell you that in the course of this year, TCN has no less than 90 projects of substations, expansion of old lines and other projects in order to expand grid capacity.
“TCN has been moving from state to state expanding the network by commissioning different projects to improve power supply.
“Here in Odogunyan Substation, we have put enough capacity and redundancy to take care of Ikeja Electric customers.
“The substation will improve the quality, stability and increase the power supply to communities in this area.
“The present administration is committed to the completion of all the ongoing projects because the completion of these projects will bring value into our life,”he said.
Fashola said that the present administration had increased the grid capacity from 5,000 megawatts in 2015 to over 7,000 mw capacity at present.
“So, when they asked what does change means, you should tell them that Buhari has expanded the capacity from 5,000mw to 7,000 mw, that is change.
“At the moment, let me also tell you that nationwide, the Rural Electrification Agency had completed 131 rural electrification projects targeting Distribution Companies (DISCOs) programme.
“Very soon, Discos will start to connect those assets into consumers home.
“We will continue to improve the network until power supply improves in the country,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Usman Mohammed, Managing Director, TCN, said that the present administration had raised over $1.7 billion for network expansion.
Mohammed said that this had enabled TCN to do series of projects to increase capacity.
He said that the newly commissioned transmission substation in Odogunyan would add 90mw into the network.
Mr Sunday Oyewole, Technical Director, Ikeja Electric, thanked the minister for adding another wonderful fleet to the sector.
Oyewole said that the substation would boost power supply to the communities in the area.