EKEDC load shedding was responsible for fire outbreak at Alagbon power transmission substation – TCN MD claims

A 66MVA 132/33kV, (28 Megawatts, MW), power transformer at the Alagbon Transmission Sub-station in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, that gutted fire on Thursday was caused by Eko Distribution Company ( EKEDC). This was the claim made by Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed. Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria.

TCN's preliminary report shows that the explosion on the power transformer started around 5:00 am and was caused by load shedding carried out by Eko Distribution company in that area, due to heavy rainfall and lightning. And it took the combined efforts of about seven fire-fighting vans, 3 hours to put off the fire.

The TCN MD disclosed that about 1000 Mega Watts of electricity supplied to Lagos, suddenly dropped to about 200MW, due to the load shedding.

Consequently , the transformer at the sub-station recorded over-voltage which then caused the T2 66MVA 132/ 33 kV power transformer at the  transmission substation to trip off simultaneously, leading to explosion of the transformer Rph 132 kV lightning arrester , which then resulted into fire outbreak on the transformer .

According to him, the DISCOs are the major cause of the challenges facing the sector. He claimed that TCN has over the years invested  and expanded its power network, but the DISCOs are replicating the gesture.

Mr. Usman said, “This is part of the reasons we are working with the government in order to invest in the DISCOs.

"This is program is called Distribution Expansion program, being funded by the government. TCN is in charge of  implementing the project on behalf of the government which is going to be like a shareholders loan to the DISCOs.

“This project would gulp about $2 million. The transformer itself is less than $1 million, but installing a transformer requires other works, we need to change some associated equipment and we need some specialise equipment for final installation.

He noted that the impact of the fire outbreak won’t be felt much by the customers, as there are spare transformers that would take care of that.

He further said, “The DISCOs are taking less than 50 percent of power transmitted to the substations. Out of about five transformers, including the one that got burnt, three are 60MVA, while two are 66MVA.

“The Eko DISCO customers would be powered as soon as the feeder is transferred to the MOBITRA.

“We also have plans to upgrade this station, under the TREP, the station is going to have additional 2x100MVA and 1x300MVA at 330kva, we are also planning to link this place to Alepo and Akangba through 330KVA, so as to provide enough flexibility for supply to the island.

“Currently, supply to Lagos Island comes in through a network line from Egbin to Ajah and from Ajah to Lekki and from Lekki to Alagbon. We believe that if we put the line from Akangba to Ijora and on Alagbon, M-1, it then means that we can feed the Lagos Island through Ikeja West and then through Egbin. We are planning to install another 330KVA substation in Ijora," he explained.

The TCN boss assured that the issue has been addressed and that power will be restored to the affected areas immediately after evacuation to another transformer in the substation.