TCN Upgrades Kano Power Infrastructure With 500MVA Transformer Capacity

TCN Upgrades Kano Power Infrastructure With 500MVA Transformer Capacity

By Our Reporter

Kano (Core Reporters) -The Transmission Company of Nigeria has upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure in Kano State with additional transformer capacity at three substations, a development expected to strengthen bulk power supply to homes, businesses and industries across the state.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, disclosed this on Thursday during the commissioning of upgraded facilities at the Dan-Agundi, Dakata and Kumbotso transmission substations.

The projects, implemented by TCN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power and funded by the World Bank, are aimed at expanding transmission capacity, improving operational efficiency and accommodating Kano’s growing electricity demand.

At Dan-Agundi, TCN installed a new 100-megavolt-ampere (MVA), 132/33-kilovolt transformer, increasing the substation’s available transformation capacity from 60MVA to 160MVA following a fire incident that damaged two of its original transformers.

The disruption had significantly reduced the substation’s capacity to serve Dan-Agundi, the Emir’s Palace, Kano ancient town and adjoining communities.

Abdulaziz said the new transformer would restore a substantial portion of the lost capacity, improve the substation’s ability to accommodate demand and strengthen bulk electricity supply to the distribution network.

The intervention also involved replacing analogue control and protection panels with modern digital systems and extending the control room to accommodate the upgraded equipment.

The improvements, according to the TCN chief, would enhance equipment monitoring, fault detection, protection and operational control.

At Dakata Transmission Substation, the installation of another 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer increased the facility’s installed transformation capacity from 150MVA to 250MVA, representing a 66.7 per cent increase.

The additional capacity is expected to support electricity demand within the Dakata Industrial Complex and surrounding communities, particularly as commercial and industrial activities continue to expand.

The project also included the replacement of analogue control and protection panels with digital systems and an extension of the control room.

TCN estimated that the Dakata project could benefit at least 70,000 households, subject to electricity availability and the capacity of the associated distribution network.

At Kumbotso, the company replaced an existing 150MVA, 330/132kV transformer with a higher-capacity 300MVA, 330/132/33kV unit. It also replaced a 40MVA, 132/33kV transformer with a 100MVA unit.

The upgrades increased the substation’s transformation capacity at the 330/132kV level from 600MVA to 750MVA, representing a 25 per cent increase.

At the 132/33kV level, capacity rose from 220MVA to 280MVA, an increase of approximately 27.3 per cent.

TCN said the Kumbotso project could improve electricity access for at least 220,000 households, depending on available supply and the capacity of the distribution network.

The projects were executed by China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute, with the contracts awarded in June 2021 and completed in June 2026.

Abdulaziz acknowledged the World Bank’s support, describing the projects as evidence of the importance of sustained investment and collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.

He said the interventions formed part of TCN’s broader efforts under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme to modernise existing facilities, expand transmission capacity and improve the national grid.

The TCN boss added that the projects aligned with the Federal Government’s power sector development objectives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that Kano’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading commercial and industrial centres made reliable electricity infrastructure essential to sustaining trade, manufacturing and other economic activities.

According to him, the additional capacity would provide greater room to accommodate growing demand and support future economic development across the state.

He, however, stressed that the projects’ benefits would depend partly on electricity availability and the capacity of distribution infrastructure to deliver power to end-users.

Abdulaziz also urged host communities, businesses and other stakeholders to protect transmission facilities against vandalism and encroachment.

He called for respect for transmission right-of-way corridors and encouraged residents to report suspicious activities around power infrastructure.

The TCN chief thanked the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, the Federal Ministry of Power, the World Bank, the project contractor, the Kano State Government and host communities for their contributions to the successful completion of the projects.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding and maintaining transmission infrastructure to improve the delivery of bulk electricity to distribution companies nationwide.