From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said that it has restored power supply to areas that had been affected by the arcing on Benin-Egbin 330kV isolator which caused lines tripping and consequent loss of supply to some areas.
TCN also denied reports alluding that the grid collapsed on Monday. It said that the system experienced lines tripping contrary to reports that the grid collapsed.
“The lines tripping started earlier at about 2:47 pm yesterday (Monday) with a heavy system surge that led to the arcing of Benin – Egbin 330kV line isolator fingers at Egbin Transmission Substation switchyard. This resulted in a tripping at the Egbin Generating Station, which caused the loss of power supply to all the Egbin Transmission Substations’ outgoing lines. This led to exponential increase in load on the Osogbo-Ihovbor 330kV line 1 with serious arcing of isolators terminals on the Osogbo-Ihovbor 330kV line 1. To ensure that the sequence of events does not affect the nations’ grid, the Osogbo – Ihovbor 330kV line was opened to temporarily cut off the flow of electricity on that line” a statement from TCN, explained.
The company also said that about 2:56pm, however, the Benin-Egbin 330kV line 1 Circuit Breaker also tripped at the Benin Transmission Substation end and this resulted in the loss of supply to Lagos axis, parts of the South West Region, parts of the North Central and Abuja.
“Meanwhile, other areas, including the South Eastern region, North East, and other parts of North Central and South West, had full power supply.
The lines tripping was quickly rectified, enabling the grid controller to restore full bulk power supply through the transmission lines at about 6.10pm yesterday (Monday).
Recall that on Monday, reports had it that there was grid collapse which threw several cities into darkness.
The grid, according to reports, collapsed around 2:55 pm on Monday, with generation dropping significantly.
The tripping, however, was earlier confirmed by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement posted on its X handle.
“Dear valued customers, We understand that some of our customers are still without power due to a system failure from the national grid at 2.55 pm.
“Please be assured that the system is gradually stabilising and we are working diligently with all relevant stakeholders to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible” AEDC said.