The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that it currently has the capacity to transmit 8,100 megawatts (MW) out of the approximately 13,000 MW generated electricity in the country. Thomas Inugonum, TCN’s General Manager for the Port Harcourt region, shared this information during a news conference, noting that the nation is supposed to transmit around 15,000 MW.
Inugonum highlighted the challenges faced by TCN, citing weak and aging infrastructure as a significant impediment to meeting the full transmission capacity. He emphasized that ongoing attacks on TCN’s facilities, coupled with vandalism, contribute to the difficulties faced by the organization. Vandals have targeted critical infrastructure, including cutting earth conductors of large transformers, resulting in significant damage.
The General Manager urged the media to raise public awareness about the dangers of such attacks, noting the impact on economic activities and the potential loss of lives if power lines fall on residential areas. He expressed concern over the vandalism of facilities worth billions of naira, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted power supply to economic development.
Inugonum revealed that TCN is currently executing 23 power projects at various stages of completion in six states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers. These projects, under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) initiative, are partly funded by TCN, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, and the World Bank. He also mentioned 15 completed projects and three projects in the proposition stage in these states.
Benneth Ezemobi, TCN’s Assistant General Manager for the Port Harcourt sub-region, added that plans are underway to supply an additional 100MW of electricity to Rivers, addressing the current capacity of slightly less than 400MW. He outlined future targets, stating that by 2025, TCN aims to meet a 500MW target for Rivers.
