The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt Region, has restored electricity supply to most parts of Bayelsa state following a four-month blackout, a region which covers Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers states.
Penpushing reports that the General Manager of the transmission company, Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, made this known at a conference in Port Harcourt, while outlining the company’s achievements in 2024.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), boss explained that the blackout was caused by criminals who vandalised about 20 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 Kilovolt (KV) electricity lines on 29 July.
“The 132KV line is the only transmission line that supply electricity to Bayelsa state. The repairs of the collapsed towers presented a significant challenge for us, considering that the blackout lasted from July 29 until November 30, when we restored the lines’, he stated
Penpushing further reports that Anyaegbulem pointed out that it cost about N13 million to construct a single transmission tower, explaining that once vandals cut off the brackets that holds a tower, the structure becomes vulnerable to the slightest breeze.
“Once vandals cut off the brackets that holds a tower, the structure becomes vulnerable to the slightest breeze. After the criminals vandalised the tower, it collapsed and caused the failure of about 20 other transmission towers between Ahoada in Rivers state and Yenagoa in Bayelsa state. We are delighted to have erected and restrung the 20 damaged 132KV towers after four months of hardship endured by the residents’, he added.
Penpushing also reports that Anyaegbulam also disclosed that police officers attached to the company had arrested about 10 suspects caught vandalising the company’s facilities in the region in 2024., explaining that out of the 10 suspects arrested, four had already been convicted by the courts, while six remained in police custody.
The General Manager stated that in spite of these challenges the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN achieved significant milestones during the outgoing year and reiterated the company’s commitment to providing electricity to Distribution Companies (DisCos) to enable them to ensure uninterrupted power supply to customers.
‘This includes the installation of a 100 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) power transmission transformer at the Port Harcourt main transmission substation, as well as the rehabilitation of the 132/33KV switch yard. We also took delivery of a 150MVA 330/33KV power transformer at TCN’s Adjabo transmission substation within the Port Harcourt main transmission substation’.
“Other achievements include the upgrade of the Itu 132/33KV transmission substation with the addition of a 60MVA transformer, three outgoing feeders, digital control panels, circuit breakers, isolators among others, he said.
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