The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced that it will purchase a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system to monitor frequently occurring grid failures and energy rejection by Distribution Companies.
The TCN’s Governing Board Chairman, Mr. Ekere Nsima, revealed this during his visit to TCN’s warehouse and a few of its substations in Lagos on Monday.
Based on data gathered from the system’s substations, SCADA systems are used to monitor and manage electrical grid systems.
Nsima said that the board set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate grid breakdown after it became widespread.
He said, “I am the Co-chair of the committee, and we went around, we understood that the issue of grid collapse and liability is a complex issue.
“I can tell you the fault is not from TCN. We have seen what the issues are; a lot from Generation Companies and DISCOs.”
“When the DISCOs were given to the private sector, if you recollect there were some investments, they were supposed to make within a certain period to enhance their operation, but unfortunately, they didn’t.
“Also right now, because they didn’t make the investments, they are not able to distribute the power they get today from generation and transmission.
“The SCADA will help to ascertain how much is being generated and transmitted. They will stop blaming us and Nigerians will see it themselves.
“So, TCN is in the process of installing a SCADA system and we know that once this is in place and deployed, it will help to get substance with grid collapse and liability,” he added.
The equipment at Ojo Warehouse and its Lagos-West substations in Ayobo and Alagbon is in good shape, the chairman stated during the tour.
“So, even if TCN carries enough power and wheels enough power, if the distribution companies are not in a position to receive this power and distribute to consumers, we still have problems.
“We are appealing to DISCOs and GENCOs to step up their game, work on their infrastructure and improve on their capacities to take power so that they can distribute and let Nigerians enjoy some level of stability,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees of the firm was taken to the Ojo Warehouse by Mr. Chris Okonkwo, General Manager, Equipment Maintenance, to inspect recently purchased equipment that had not yet been delivered to substations.
According to Okonkwo, the assessment revealed that the TCN had equipment at the warehouse valued at about N89 billion in 2021.
In 2022, he said, more equipment would be purchased, increasing the equipment’s worth.
According to the General Manager of Transmission, Mr. Mojeed Akintola, the 1,050 megawatts can be wheeled out of the Lagos-West substation at Ayobo.
Akintola also said that the substation served the Eko Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, and some areas of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
