Power outage: TCN identifies fault at transmission line, begins repair

Power outage: TCN identifies fault at transmission line, begins repair

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says its linesmen have identified the fault responsible for the power outage on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line.

On Tuesday, TCN reported a power outage in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central after the 330 kV Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped around 4:53 am “due to a fault.”.

Chronicle NG reported that the power outage occurred on Monday.

Providing an update in a statement on Wednesday, the company’s general manager of public affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the fault was discovered in the Igumale area of Benue State.

On Tuesday, TCN reported a power outage in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central when the 330 kV Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped “due to a fault” at 4:53 a.m.

The power outage happened on Monday. Ndidi Mbah, the company’s general manager of public affairs, issued an update on Wednesday, stating that the defect was discovered in the Igumale area of Benue State.

The company stated that a crew of TCN linesmen noticed the issue on the line around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

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According to Mbah, the one-span fault spot was discovered as a snapped 330kV transmission line in Igumale, Benue State’s swampy woodland.

”Having made the discovery earlier in the evening of Wednesday, arrangements are already ongoing to mobilise equipment and materials that would be moved to the site of the incident to commence repair works.

“A team of linesmen from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has discovered the fault on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330KV Double Circuit transmission line at about 5 pm this evening, in the Igumale area of Benue State,” the statement reads.

“The fault area of the transmission line, which measures about one span, was found to be a snapped 330kV transmission line located in the swampy forest of Igumale.”

Following the discovery, she stated that preparations are underway to gather the equipment and materials needed for TCN to begin repair work at the incident site on Thursday.

“Due to the difficult and swampy nature of the terrain, TCN would require to move a bulldozer and other materials for the repair works from the Enugu Regional office of TCN to the site of the incident.

“A Hiab vehicle would also be moved to Igumale to help TCN properly tension the transmission line,” Mbah said.

Mbah noted that prior efforts by two teams dispatched to investigate the source of the forced outage had failed till Wednesday evening.

The general manager underlined TCN’s commitment to resolving the problem as soon as possible, saying that the company is urgently preparing the necessary materials for the repair work.

Mbah further stated that previous efforts by two teams assigned to investigate the source of the forced outage had been ineffective until Wednesday evening.

The general manager confirmed TCN’s commitment to resolving the situation as soon as possible, saying that the company is urgently organising the required materials for the repairs.

Mbah also thanked the government and electrical customers in the impacted areas for their patience.