The electricity transmission in Nigeria will get a boost with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) approval of US$210 million as loan. The electricity transmission and distribution network in the west African country is seriously impaired with lack of investments and neglect.
The infusion of money in the form of a loan will help Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to build 330KV double circuit quad transmission lines and sub-stations across the country. The newly created infrastructure will improve availability of power in seven states and at the same time augment power availability in the national grid. Unlike most of the other countries in Africa including South Africa, Nigeria had privatized power in 2013 but at the same time retained its monopoly in the power grid. Most of the power stations in the country are thermal and use gas as the feedstock.
The project would help evacuate power from the south towards the north, where power supply is limited. It would also help power export to other west African countries. Nigeria’s power generation capacity is about 7,000 MW, though actual generation is only 4000 MW. But, the transmission network cannot cope if plants operate at full swing .
Nigeria’s power sector does not meter power usages and invoices are not raised against power users. As a result, collections are low. Energy tariffs have remained fixed for three years. This has hit the revenues from the power sector. Despite the privatization, the sector is left with ballooning debts.
The electricity transmission in Nigeria will get a boost with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) approval of US$210 million as loan. The electricity transmission and distribution network in the west African country is seriously impaired with lack of investments and neglect.
The infusion of money in the form of a loan will help Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to build 330KV double circuit quad transmission lines and sub-stations across the country. The newly created infrastructure will improve availability of power in seven states and at the same time augment power availability in the national grid. Unlike most of the other countries in Africa including South Africa, Nigeria had privatized power in 2013 but at the same time retained its monopoly in the power grid. Most of the power stations in the country are thermal and use gas as the feedstock.
The project would help evacuate power from the south towards the north, where power supply is limited. It would also help power export to other west African countries. Nigeria’s power generation capacity is about 7,000 MW, though actual generation is only 4000 MW. But, the transmission network cannot cope if plants operate at full swing .
Nigeria’s power sector does not meter power usages and invoices are not raised against power users. As a result, collections are low. Energy tariffs have remained fixed for three years. This has hit the revenues from the power sector. Despite the privatization, the sector is left with ballooning debts.
