FCT Four Power Transmission Substations to be Completed in Dec – FG
The Federal Government says it will intensify efforts to ensure that four major power transmission substations projects in various locations in Abuja will be completed this year.
While inspecting the projects on Wednesday, FG expressed disappointment by the output of the contractor (General Electric) handling the core substation meant to feed others.
It, however, stated that upon completion of the projects before December this year, the substations and other new transmission lines would boost electricity evacuation capacity by about 2,282 megawatts.
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The government disclosed this through its Transmission Company of Nigeria, when officials of the firm, led by their Managing Director, Sule Abdulaziz, embarked on an inspection of the projects ahead of the planned inauguration of the facilities.
The team inspected the Gwarimpa/Dawaki 2×60MVA 132/33KV GIS substation; 2×60MVA 132/33kV substation in Wumba; New Apo 2×150MVA 330/132/33KV substation; as well as the Kuje substation.
At the New Apo 2×150MVA 330/132/33KV substation, which was described as the main project in the Abuja Ring Scheme, Abdulaziz said TCN was disappointed that GE had not delivered, whereas the other contractor, GIS, which was handling the Gwarimpa and Lokogoma substations was almost done.
He said all the contractors started the job at the same time in 2019 and wondered why GE would be delaying the key project that was meant to feed other substations.
He said, “These projects were signed at the same time and you saw that the other company that is handling Dawaka/Gwarimpa and Lokogoma substations has gone far and we want to inaugurate those two stations before December.
“This is 330KV substation. Those 132KV substations will rely on this 330KV station, but as you can see, the company handling it, which is GE, is far behind.
“Initially when we were given this project, we looked at GE as one of the international companies that could be compared with Siemens, but the result we are getting now is disappointing.”
Abdulaziz added, “We have spent a lot of money to clear the containers at the port, because they (GE) allowed the containers to accrue demurrage. This money we spent is not part of our budget; it is not part of what the French Development Agency is giving us.
“It is our Internally Generated Revenue that we could have used to maintain our grid or do some other projects, but we spend millions in clearing the goods. So, I think there is an issue with the contractor.”
Asked whether the government would review the contract, the TCN helmsman replied, “If you start reviewing or canceling contracts, you’ll enter into another form of difficulty.
“So, what we are trying to do is to push them to make sure they deliver this project. Then in the future, we will know who to give our new contracts to.”
Abdulaziz said the New Apo substation was the main facility in the ring scheme, as the cable that would feed other stations would go underground from the Apo facility.
“So, this is a 330KV facility and all those 132KV substations rely on this one. The contractor handling this project is GE,” he stated.
On whether the other 132KV substations would be able to survive without the Apo 330KV facility, he said, “Well, not that they are not going to survive, but we have to look for another way of connecting those substations.
“If we cannot get the supply from here, we will look at our system to see how we can get supply for the sister stations.”
An official of GE at the Apo station, who pleaded not to be named due to the nature of the matter, attributed the delay to the changes in government’s policy on clearing goods at the ports.
This, however, was not accepted by TCN, as it insisted that the other contractor faced the same challenge but still delivered.
Abdulaziz further stated that the facilities would boost electricity transmission by over 2,200MW.
