TCN Adds 600MW to National Grid
Nigeria’s Transmission Company of Nigeria has added 600 megawatts to the national grid following the official commissioning of a new high-voltage transmission line project in Edo State, offering fresh hope for improved electricity supply across the country.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, made the announcement on Thursday at the commissioning of the Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In-Turn-Out Transmission Line Project, describing it as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s power transmission infrastructure.
“This project involves the strategic linking of the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line to the Ihovbor Transmission Substation, creating two new transmission routes with a total length of 14 kilometres,” Abdulaziz said.
The project, he explained, enhances the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthens power delivery resilience within the Benin corridor by connecting directly to the Ihovbor transmission substation and routing bulk electricity to distribution load centres nationwide.
Central to the project’s value is its capacity to unlock previously stranded power generation. The new line grants TCN greater ability to evacuate electricity produced by the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company plant, two significant generation assets whose output had previously been constrained by transmission bottlenecks.
“Before, there was power that was generated without evacuation, but now we are going to evacuate more power, which means Nigerians would be getting a more powerful supply,” Abdulaziz stated.
He added that the project has simultaneously alleviated transmission bottlenecks, enhanced system reliability, and expanded access for distribution companies seeking bulk electricity for their customers.
A key feature of the new infrastructure is its integration into Nigeria’s national grid system, which theoretically allows power generated from the Benin axis to be wheeled to any part of the country. According to Abdulaziz, this positions the project not merely as a regional upgrade but as a national asset with far reaching implications for electricity distribution equity.
“With the grid system, power generated from the Benin axis can easily be wheeled to any part of the country,” he noted.
The TCN chief framed the commissioning as part of a broader institutional commitment to building a modern, efficient, and resilient transmission network. “This project showcases TCN’s dedication to ongoing improvement, innovation, and collaboration with stakeholders in the power sector,” he said.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has long been plagued by chronic generation, transmission, and distribution failures, with the country’s installed generation capacity far exceeding what the grid can actually transmit and consumers can ultimately receive. The addition of 600 megawatts in transmittable capacity, while modest against the country’s energy deficit, represents a concrete operational gain within a sector accustomed to delayed promises.