Electricity supply down by 480MW due to vandalised transmission tower

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday said Nigeria’s overall power generation has dropped to 3763.4 megawatts (MW) from 4243.4MW, following the vandalism of one of its transmission towers in the eastern supply loop.

TCN said in a statement in Abuja that the tower, No. 62, which is along the Okpai-Onitsha 330kV double circuit transmission line and evacuate power generated from the Okpai Power Station in Delta State was vandalised.

The statement disclosed that the incident which took place at Asaba Uchi, Ndokwa East Local Government Area on November 10 has resulted in the reduction of available power to the national grid by about 480MW.

According to the ministry of power, Nigeria’s electricity generation level as at Monday stood at 4243.4MW.

TCN said: “At about 4:51 a.m. on November 10, 2015, the Okpai-Onitsha 330kV transmission line tripped and the cause of the tripping was traced to tower No: 62, which had been vandalised. Two of the four legs of the transmission tower were cut by vandals, causing the tower to hang precariously.

“This poses a major threat to transmission grid integrity as a total collapse of this tower could bring down several other towers along the transmission line route.”

It explained that its quick response engineering crew has inspected the site of the incident located in the swampy forest of Asaba Uchi, adding that they have already mobilised a reputable engineering, contracting firm to anchor the transmission tower temporarily to avoid total collapse.

Accordingly, anchoring the vandalised tower will enable TCN energise one of the circuits on the tower to enable it recommence partial power evacuation from the Okpai Power Station to the national grid.

This it said was expected to be achieved within a fortnight.

The statement further noted that TCN would construct a new tower to replace the vandalised tower No. 62, but that due to the swampy nature of the site, construction can only commence in the dry season when vehicular access is possible.

TCN however reassures that it would continue to work towards a robust transmission grid, and pleads with all, especially its host communities, to work with it in its fight against the nefarious activities of vandals.

The construction of a new tower, it noted, would cost the company millions of naira which would have been applied to its grid expansion plans.

Credit: ThisDay