By Etuka Sunday
Despite the power national grid collapse, with its attendant poor supply nationwide, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday announced attack on its 330/132kV transmission substation at Molai in Maiduguri, Borno State by insurgents.
TCN in a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs) Ndidi Mbah, said that during the attack, which took place on the 7th of May, 2019, at about 5:30pm, 2No Post Isolators Porcelain units were affected, but that the cracks were however not too deep as to affect supply to the substation.
The statement said: “Two Hilux vans and one vehicle belonging to a staff of TCN were destroyed while insurgents made away with the third Hilux Van.
“Other items destroyed include: hiab truck, computer, monitor and printer in the control room.
“The windows of the Control Room and staff house were also shattered by gun shots,” it said.
According to the statement the operator on duty did exceptionally well by opening the transmission lines from the substation and shutting down the station before quickly leaving the substation just before the insurgents reached the substation.
After the incident, TCN engineers did a thorough check of the substation equipment before restoration on Wednesday 8th May 2019 at 9.31Hrs.
The company commended the efforts of security operatives who have continued to make it possible for its operators to run the substation and appealed that more of them should be deployed to the area, to further boost the morale of workers who have been unrelenting in ensuring that electricity supply is sustained in Maiduguri and environs despite the risks.
The 330/132/33kV Molai Transmission Substation was completed and energized October 25th, 2018 and was also formally commissioned Wednesday, 13th February, 2019.
The substation comprises 150MVA and 60MVA power transformers which feed Yola Disco customers in Maiduguri and environs.
The company reiterated its commitment to implementing the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program under which some level of investment and consequently stability has been achieved.
TCN said, to completely stabilize and modernize the grid, Nigeria must complete the on-going investment in grid expansion & rehabilitation, establish adequate spinning reserve and install well-functioning SCADA.
The Molai Substation had experienced attacks by insurgents in the past but this has not deterred TCN from ensuring that power is supplied to Maiduguri.
