- TCN has upgraded its infrastructure to transmit up to 6,000 MW of electricity, with additional plans to enhance grid stability through spinning reserves.
- The company is actively involved in the Presidential Power Initiative, which aims to expand transmission capacity to 25,000 MW.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced its enhanced capability to transmit up to 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to distribution centres nationwide. This milestone reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to modernise and expand Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, August 1, 2024, TCN Managing Director Sule Abdulaziz detailed the company’s recent achievements.
Over the past three years, TCN has made significant strides, including upgrading numerous substations and constructing new ones. These improvements were financed through the company’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and support from various donor agencies.
Abdulaziz highlighted that the company has installed new transformers to bolster its transmission capacity. The grid’s capacity has been validated using scientifically accepted methods, ensuring its reliability.
He explained that TCN has a comprehensive list of proposed projects categorised into batches. The first batch includes projects requiring minimal investment but offering quick enhancements to grid capacity.
A recent grid simulation test showed that TCN’s capacity is 8,100 MW. In March 2021, TCN successfully transmitted 5,801 MW from generating companies to distribution load centres nationwide. Since then, the company has continued to expand its infrastructure, adding more transformers, extending transmission lines, and constructing new substations.
The TCN MD expressed confidence in TCN’s ability to transmit up to 6,000 MW and beyond by the end of the year. He also emphasised TCN’s role in the Nigerian Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), a Federal Government-led effort to address sector challenges and expand transmission and distribution capacities to a target of 25,000 MW.
Additionally, Abdulaziz unveiled plans to procure a spinning reserve to stabilise the national grid’s frequency. This reserve is intended to maintain grid stability during system faults or disturbances. He acknowledged that implementing this initiative would necessitate collaboration with key stakeholders throughout the power value chain.
Moreover, TCN is working on several projects to close the remaining radial loops in the network, creating redundancy and further strengthening the grid’s resilience. As TCN continues to advance its infrastructure, the company remains committed to enhancing Nigeria’s power transmission network and supporting the country’s energy needs.