By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has inaugurated the newly constructed Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In-Turn-Out transmission lines in Edo State which it said would be able to evacuate additional 600 megawatt of electricity into the national grid.

Speaking during the inauguration at the Ihovbor Transmission Substation in Benin City, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz described the project as a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure and improving grid reliability nationwide.

He said the project would significantly enhance TCN’s capacity to evacuate electricity generated by the Azura Power plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company facility.

“This project has increased the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthened the resilience of power delivery within the Benin corridor.

“The importance of this project cannot be overstated. It grants TCN the ability to more efficiently evacuate power generated by the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company plant.” He said.

The TCN boss assured Nigerians that the project would translate to improved power supply across the country, noting that the transmission infrastructure had already been energised before the official commissioning.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Energo Nigeria, Predrag Mihel, said the project involved the construction of approximately 14 kilometres of 330kV double-circuit transmission line comprising 30 towers and foundations.

Also speaking, General Manager, Benin Region of TCN, Charles Iwuamadi, said the project represented a major expansion of transmission capacity in the region.

“We are talking about over 600 megawatts added as a wheeling capacity in this environment,” Iwuamadi said.

Representing the Enogie of Ihovbor/Evbueka, Fortune Igbinakenzua, Elliot Imafido appealed to TCN to prioritise employment opportunities for indigenes and improve electricity supply to the host community.