South East to be in darkness for 2 days –TCN

Category: Business Published on Friday, 25 January 2013 06:00 Written by Yunus Abdulhamid

The five eastern states including Benue are to be in total darkness for 48 hours this weekend, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced.

The outage is to enable the TCN complete the final works on the new double circuit 330KV transmission line from Benin Edo state to Onitsha in Anambra State.

The six affected states are Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Benue.

While regretting the inconvenience to electricity consumers in the areas, the statement by the TCN Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Dave Ifabiyi said “the crucial final connection works (is) to be carried out by its (TCN) contractors, having completed the stringing of 330kV double circuit transmission line across River Niger. It is aimed at enhancing the transmission capacity in the area and improve grid power delivery and reliability nationwide.”

The Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) in a separate statement said it was working with the TCN to ensure that “scheduled power outage… will be as seamless as possible.”

Another contractor, MBH Power will also carry out pre-commissioning tests during this period, it said.

Chairman of the task force, Engr. Becks Dagogo-Jack, said “the benefits of energising the long-awaited 3rd Benin Onitsha Line amply justifies the regrettable inconvenience of two days which shall be limited to the Eastern states and part of Benue State.