Power station collapses, blackout hits Abuja, Kogi

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and some areas in Kogi State are currently experiencing power outages due to technical glitches.

The two areas are under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.

On Tuesday, the AEDC informed its customers in Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli and other parts of Abuja that a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station was responsible for the power outage.

“The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc wishes to notify its esteemed customers that there is currently a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

“The areas affected in Abuja are: Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli, Old Karu Road, Glory Estate and environs,” the Disco said in a statement.

The AEDC disclosed that the TCN maintenance crew was working to ensure the supply of electricity to these areas was restored soon, regretting any inconvenience caused.

Earlier, the TCN had announced its maintenance crew would carry out planned maintenance on its TR3 45MVA and TR2 60MVA power transformers in its 132/33kV Okene Transmission Substation.

The maintenance was scheduled to run from Tuesday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 03pm on each day.

Consequently, Abuja DisCo will not be able to off-take power from the substation to its customers in Okene, Kabba, Ososo and Ikare during the period of the maintenance.

“Kindly note that bulk power supply will be restored to Abuja DisCo immediately after maintenance work is completed,” the TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said.

Meanwhile, Mbah said the TCN had commissioned a 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer at its Port Harcourt Main Transmission Substation to the bulk transmission capability of the substation by 80MW.

This initiative, which she said was is in collaboration with World Bank, also includes the complete rehabilitation and expansion of the 132/33kV transmission substation and the addition of three feeders and associated accessories.

“With the installation of the 100MVA power transformer, the substation’s installed capacity increased from 180MVA to 280MVA. Notably, industries in the Trans Amadi industrial environment and communities beyond Port Harcourt city will benefit significantly from this capacity expansion,” she added.

The PUNCH reports that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, recently summoned the management of the AEDC over worsening power supply in its franchise.

Adelabu also summoned the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulazeez, over the deteriorating power situation across the country since January this year.

But, the Discos and the TCN have repeatedly blamed the low power supply on gas shortage, vandalism, energy theft and other factors.