Oredola Adeola

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), with funding from the World Bank, has successfully upgraded and energized two 100MVA 132/33kV power transformers at its 132kV Benin Transmission Substation and Ihovbor Work Centre in Edo State, enhancing the bulk power supply to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for the benefit of Egba, Oluku, Ihovbor, and surrounding areas.

Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs made this known in a statement obtained by Advisors Reports on Monday.

According to her, at the 132kV Benin Transmission Substation, TCN completed and energized a new 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer on Saturday, February 3, 2024, while at the Ihovbor Work Centre, a 100MVA power transformer was energized on the January 29, 2024.

Mbah further stated that the energized transformer at Ihovbor 132/33kV Work Centre will provide increased bulk power supply to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for onward supply to Egba, Oluku, Ihovbor and its environs, and the newly energized 100MVA transformer at Benin Transmission Substation will increase the substation’s capacity from 240MVA to 300MVA.

She said, “Before the recent upgrade, the Benin Transmission Substation had two 60MVA, one 80 MVA, and one 40MVA 132/33kV Mobitra transformer which was upgraded to 100MVA power transformer.
“Whilst Ihovbor had 2x60MVA of which one has been upgraded to 100MVA. Capacity at Ihovbor rose from 120MVA to 160MVA.

“With the recent upgrade, TCN has increased its capacity to wheel more bulk power to Benin DisCo for onward evacuation to its customers,” she said.

Mbah further stated that the projects are part of the collaborative efforts of the World Bank and TCN Management to boost bulk power transmission nationwide.

Advisors Reports’ check showed that the facilities expansion and upgrade at work centres in Edo, was aimed at expanding the grid for increased capacity and improved power transmission to the distribution companies in the areas.

Engr. Issac Okpe, TCN General Manager in Benin region, in a recent statement obtained by Advisors Reports, disclosed that the expansion and upgrading in Benin region, will upgrade TCN’s capacity currently at 330kv level from about 615 megawatts to 1,152.5 megawatts.

“With this, TCN would have more than enough capacity to take care of Edo State, parts of Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states under our Benin region,” he said.