Siemens transformers pass Italy test, coming to Nigeria September

Siemens power transformers ordered by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Power Initiative have passed factory acceptance test in Trento, Italy, the office of the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has said.

It added that the first batch of the transformers would arrive in Nigeria in September this year.

In 2018, President Buhari initiated the PPI that would enable Siemens Energy to upgrade Nigeria’s electricity systems.

The Managing Director of Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company (FGN-Power) Mr Kenny Anuwe, who led a delegation which had engineers from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was said to have witnessed the factory acceptance test conducted on July 28 in Trento, Italy.

The minister had led a delegation to Germany in April and visited the Siemens Energy factories in Berlin and Frankfurt, held meetings with the senior leadership of Siemens Energy on the need to fast-track the delivery of the early orders that will kick start the transformation of Nigeria’s electricity.

Minister Aliyu said, “The successful factory acceptance test shows Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens Energy is on track. It also shows federal government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges.”

Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of Power Aliyu last year December secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council of €63 million (Euro) for the procurement of equipment to boost power supply under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) — whose first phase will provide 10 mobile power substations and 10 transformers.