….. First of its kind in ECOWAS

 

 

By Merit Ibe 
 In  support of the federal government’s power improvement plan, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has invested in mobile testing facilities which is  first of its kind in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),  for on the spot testing of products such as transformers and generators.

Director General of the organization, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke stated this at the inauguration of the mobile generators and transformers laboratories in Lagos.

Okeke noted that SON has identified power transformer as a very important component of power supply chain that requires monitoring to ensure its quality complies with Nigeria’s industrial standard requirements.

He said the organisation embarked on the project in fulfilment of SON’s mandate to organise tests and do everything necessary to ensure compliance with standards designated and approved by the council.

He emphasised that the launch of the laboratory is to provide convenience, flexibility, reduce turnaround time, reduce cost and provide ease of doing business for clients, as the organisation is always in the forefront of innovative development.

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He disclosed that the mobile testing facility is equipped to carry out tests on transformers such as load testing, protection test, generators efficiency, power factor, voltage regulation test, insulation test, emission test of generators exhaust and noise level check.  “These are critical tests that will determine the quality of generators and will supply information to our product certification department for MANCAP certification.

“The mobile testing on transformer will include Insulation resistance, winding test, ration test, polarity test, leakage resistance partial discharge test and no-load loss and excitation current among others.

He informed assemblers, importers of these products that it was no longer business as usual, noting that buyers must have value for their money.

“SON will be collaborating will other government agencies in the electricity sector to sanitize the market and ensure that only certified products are allowed in the Nigeria market.

On his part, Director, Lab Services, SON, Richard Adewunmi, who made a presentation on the impact and overview of SON laboratories services on economic growth said the facilities is a plus for the organisation and consumers, which will save time and money.

The representative of Otunba Francis Meshioye, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Joseph Emoleke, Director, Field Services, MAN, commended SON for the milestone achievement, saying that it is an incentive to the manufacturers and importers of both transformers and generators.