Fatshimetrie, an online media outlet well known for its commitment to informing the public, recently reported a disruption on Nigeria’s national power grid. According to information provided by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), an explosion occurred on the bus section of a current transformer at the 330kV Jebba transmission substation, leading to nationwide power outages.
TCN explained that the incident occurred at around 8:15am on a Sunday morning, and that system protection was activated to prevent any risk of fire and further damage to adjacent equipment. TCN engineers based in Jebba quickly took steps to isolate the faulty transformer, reconfigure the busbar arrangement, and restore power to the area and the rest of the grid.
Following the incident, a significant drop in power supply was observed, with gradual recovery over time. The latest data from the National System Operator showed that the supply had recovered to 496.20 MW as of noon. It is noteworthy that this disruption on Nigeria’s national power grid is the third time in the last seven days and the eighth such occurrence this year.
In addition, TCN reported acts of vandalism on two pylons along its 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines. This destruction led to malfunctions on both transmission lines, directly impacting the electricity supply. Local vigilance patrols were mobilised to monitor the lines and discovered two damaged pylons, T133 and T136, with cables severely deteriorated in several locations.
These incidents highlight the challenges facing the energy sector in Nigeria, particularly with regard to the security of transmission infrastructure and the resilience of the national power grid. It is essential that measures are taken to strengthen the protection of installations and prevent acts of vandalism that compromise the reliability of electricity supply to the population.
In conclusion, the incident at the Jebba transmission substation and the acts of vandalism on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines underscore the critical importance of ensuring the stability and security of Nigeria’s electricity grid. It is imperative that concrete actions are taken to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure and ensure reliable electricity supply to the entire population. The relevant authorities must work in collaboration with stakeholders in the energy sector to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure stable and sustainable electricity supply to all Nigerians.