MARGARET CHIDERA
As part of measures to boost power supply in the country, the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria has approved the sum of $53.1 million for the procurement and installation of electricity conductors and transformers.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, expressed optimism that when installed, the conductors will help address the challenge of constant tripping of circuit breakers due to overloading of electricity lines.
The Minister also revealed the cost of the conductors, which includes a Naira component of N2.1billion.
According to him, the new conductors would be used to upgrade existing power lines, with the aim of enhancing their efficiency.
Aliyu listed the four components of the contract to include 173 kilometre Kubotso- Hadeja, line; 105 kilometre Kumbotso-Kankiya line; 90 kilometre Benin-Irrua line; 72 kilometre Irrua-Okpella; 48kilometre Okpella-Okenne, 58 kilometere Okenna-Ajaokuta lines and 394 kilometre Gombe-Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri line.
The minister also disclosed that Council approved a N1.46 billion contract for the procurement of 20 transformers ratio analysers for the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
“I presented two memos to council. The first memo that I presented is to seek approval for the award of contract for the reconductoring of 132 KV single and double circuits satellite transmission lines in the following locations across the country.
“It is a memo for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. So, the briefs and locations are 173km Nboso-Hadeijia 132 single circuit line and 105km Nboso-Kankia 132 single circuit line.
“The amount is in two components with offshore of $11,190,098.12 cent and onshore of N421,488,011.89. The contract is approved to be awarded to Msssrs Inagu Nigeria Limited.
“The second one on the same memo are 90km Benin-Irrua 132 single circuit line; 72km Irrua-Okpella 132 single circuit line; 48km Okpella – Okene; and 58km Okene – Ajaokuta. The offshore amount is $12,806,635.45 cent.
“The onshore component is N630,590,050. The contractor is Msssrs RJK Power System.
“The third one in the same memo is 394km Gombe-Biu-Dambua- Maiduguri 132 single circuit line. The offshore amount is $18,370,819.17 cents and onshore of N590,806,186.08. The recipient contractor is Msssrs Lagasse Power.
“The last on this memo are 8km Port Harcourt Main to Port Harcourt Town and 10km Alauji-Aba Town. These are double circle lines. It includes 165km Osogbo/Offa/Omu-Aran/Gamu/ Ilorin single circuit line; 72km Onitsha – Orji River single circuit. The offshore amount is $10,763,576.08 cents and onshore of N504,184,378.48. The contractor is Msssrs Inagu Nigeria Limited.
“The total amount for these four components is $53,131,128.93 cent plus onshore component of N2,127,068,626.45. These are existing lines which are being upgraded. The wires will be removed and new ones put in place.
“The difference between the new wires and the old ones is that new ones will be more efficient. They carry more load than the old wires. It will reduce sagging. Once the wires are aged, they will sag and they become vulnerable. They become more heavy and if you are changing them, you have to also change the stands which are carrying the wires. So, these ones are lighter. They can carry more electricity. So, it will improve the efficiency.
“The challenges of constant tripping of breakers that we are facing due to overloading of these lines will be tremendously reduced. So, this is what this reconductoring is aimed to achieve.
“The second memo is also approved by Council for the contract to procure 20 number transformer tones racial analyzers for the TCN. It is also a TCN memo. These are equipment used for testing transformers.
“They have state-of-the-art equipment used to test the reliability of transformers and the switch gears. So, the total cost is N1.46 billion and the contractor is Msssrs B’s Fill Nigeria Limited. It will be supplied within four months. For the first memo, all the projects will be completed within 12 months.” He said.
