Mr Usman Mohammed, the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said his company $93 million from $100 million Togo and Benin Republic owed.
Mohammed said: ”The debt for the Republics of Benin and Togo have been reduced from $100 million to $7 million.
TCN Installs 68 Transformers Nationwide Since 2017
Mr Usman Mohammed, also said that TCN had installed 68 transformers nationwide since 2017.
Mohammed assured that transmission wheeling capacity will reach 10,000 megawatts (MW) by July 2020.
Mr Mohammed stated this while addressing newsmen at a quarterly TCN briefing in Abuja weekend.
Mohammed explained that the massive milestones were achieved between February 2017 and October 2019 through the implementation of the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP).
Mr Mohammed said the TREP targets raising the bulk power transmission wheeling capacity from 6,500MW to 10,000MW in 2020 and reaching 20,000MW by 2021.
Imported Conductors Arrive Nigeria Says, TCN
Mohammed disclosed that the conductors to be used for the line reconductoring have arrived Nigeria for upgrading major lines in Lagos, Onitsha, Kaduna and many other areas which will raise the grid capacity to evacuate the 10,000MW power.
“TCN believe that by June, July we should be able to complete those reconductoring and come up with that capacity.”
Mr Mohammed said the capacity could be more than the projection due to other transmission lines project being delivered.
Mohammed added that the Jos to Kaduna line was about 98 percent completed.
Mr Mohammed gave updates of the various power transmission projects being executed by TCN under TREP.
Mohammed said 486 million dollar World Bank financed projects and the Abuja Transmission Ring project were among those projects.
Mohammed, however, reiterated calls for the strengthening of the operations of the 11 power Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Mr Mohammed said strengthening the DisCos would enable them evacuate more power from the upgraded and enhanced facilities of TCN.
Nigeria’s Power Generation Cheapest In West Africa
Mohammed is also the Chairman, Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP). Mr Mohammed said that Nigeria’s power generation is the cheapest in West Africa.
“It means that we can generate electricity, create employment for our people and earn foreign exchange.
‘TCN has created an electricity market that is sustainable. And that would actually help the growth of our GDP and the economy,” he said.
Mohammed said the debt for the Republics of Benin and Togo have been reduced from $100 million to $7m.
He added that Niger Republic owe below $2m.
“Electricity is not charity.
”TCN cannot allow people to consume electricity and leave without payment
”Transmission Company of Nigeria has also determined that customers owing the company must complete their payment.
”In fact, as at now, TCN has restricted their supply to only their contractual debts.
”And TCN is insisting that debtors pay all their outstanding before TCN reconnects them,” Mohammed said.
