The French Development Agency, AFD has scored the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) high on the implementation of five transmission projects and a transmission line under the Abuja Ring Fence Transmission Projects. The ongoing projects comprising two 330kV substations, three 132KV substations and a 330kV transmission line is an intervention project that is aimed at expanding transmission wheeling capacity in Abuja, such that Abuja will not experience power transmission constraints in the next 20 years.

The AFD team led by the AFD Country Director, Mr Xavia Murou, were conducted round by the TCN team on an on-the-spot assessment tour of the five project sites, in Abuja recently.

Speaking at the site of the 2x60MVA 132/33kV Gwarimpa Gas Insulated Substation (GIS), Mr. Murou, expressed the AFD team’s satisfaction with the level of project execution. In his words, “we are very impressed with progress made in executing the project because we know it had taken a lot of time to start up, but now, we can see a lot of work going on. Hopefully, very soon, communities will start benefiting from it and that is exactly what we are aiming for. Being closer to achievement, it is important for us to make sure that the project continues seamlessly” 

Commenting on the delivery date for the project, Mr Murou said: “I was told the delivery day will be in the month of July and if it coincides with the French National Day on the 14th, I will be happy to come that day with our flags so that we can celebrate with the communities and TCN of course.”

The AFD Energy Project Manager, Anne-Sophie Rakoutz on her part, lauded TCN for the progress made so far, saying that “It’s great to see the projects being buillt up and almost being completed. TCN is doing a very good job, given the fact that this kind of job is quite complex. Also, the engineers have reported that this project will clearly reinforce the stability of the grid and contribute to reducing technical losses”. She thanked for their active participation and persistence, nothing that TCN has been a strong partner of AFD in the last few years.  

The inspection team also visited the 2x150MVA 132/33kV Lugbe West Main Transmission Substation to assess the level of project execution. There, the equipment for the substation was already on ground and initial civil works were ongoing.

At the 2x60MVA 132/33kV Kuje Transmission Substation, work was also ongoing. On completion, the Kuje Substation will boost bulk power supply to distribution load demand centres at the Kuje Area Council, where more public, commercial and residential buildings are fast rising. The inspection team equally visited the 2x60MVA 132/33kV Wumba Transmission Substation where the site had been cleared and power equipment already arriving the site of the project.

The AFD site visit was concluded at the 330/132kV New Apo Transmission Substation. The New Apo 2x150MVA, 3x60MVA transmission Substation project, will be “mother substation” for the third source of bulk power supply coming through Lafia, from Markurdi -Jos 33okV transmission line. Others are the 330/132kV Shiroro - Katampe Transmission Line, and the 330/132kV Geregu - Gwagwalada Transmission Line.

Speaking at the New Apo substation site, the TCN- AFD Project Manager, Engr. Jane Okemini, lauded TCN Management team led by the Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive officer, Engr. Dr. Sule Abdulaziz, for prompt intervention in clearing the project equipment from at the ports. Engr. Okemini further said that the projects were on track and that work was progressing in line with the new completion date, noting that the projects would have been completed and commissioned last year but for the delay by the pandemic and the introduction of the e-IDEC at the ports.

The Abuja Ring Fence Transmission Project will add 624MW bulk energy transmission capacity to the national grid. With the completion of this project, transmission capacity in Abuja axis will always be ahead of load demand in Abuja for a very long time. The Abuja Feeding Scheme is a green-field project – brand new project executed from scratch - and is being wholly funded by the AFD.

The project site assessment exercise by the AFD team is part of the Agencies’ first mission visit for 2022, aimed at monitoring and providing timely intervention that would ensure a timely actualization the projects.