BY ONYEKA AJUMOBI ONOCHIE
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that the National Grid experienced a system collapse yesterday at 9.10am due to high voltage following massive drop of load by the electricity distribution companies.
Revealing this in Abuja, in a statement, TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, noted that the high voltage also caused a fire incident in the 75MXreactor in the Benin Substation, Sapele Road in Benin City, Edo State.
According to her, the massive load drop led to high voltage in the system, which shattered the lightning arrester in close proximity to the 75MX reactor in the Benin Substation. The shattered lightning arrester porcelain, she stressed, hit the reactor bushing, causing further explosion on the reactor, which resulted in massive fire outbreak.
She informed that the restoration of the Grid had commenced almost immediately and as at 1.30pm same day, bulk power supply to most parts of the nation had been restored.
“The Management of TCN commends the efforts and support of the Government of Edo State and Benin Electricity Distribution Company as well as the Fire Service in putting out the fire and restoring normal power supply,”she stressed, adding that, “the Management has commenced the movement of another reactor to Benin City to replace the burnt one and ensure voltage stability in the City as well as prevent a re-occurrence.”
According to Mbah, TCN management would also ensure a review of the entire protection and earthing system nationwide, noting that this will be done in addition to the overall upgrading of the system through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program (TREP) being financed by multi-lateral donors.
She added that the installation of three units of reactors on the Ikot- Ekpene- Ugwuaji –Jos line has reached an advance stage, and is expected that once they were installed and commissioned, the grid would be further stabilized.
“TCN Management wishes to assure Nigerians that it is doing everything possible to modernize, upgrade and stabilize the National Grid,” Mbah promised.
