Uche Cecil Izuora
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has complained of difficulty in evacuation process following torrential rains that submerged its transmission facilities in Lagos.
The Company in response has declared force majeure on its Oworonshoki 132/33kV and Lekki 330/132kV transmission substations in Lagos after severe flooding caused by persistent rainfall disrupted operations at the facilities.
In a statement, TCN explained that the force majeure declaration followed flooding triggered by continuous rainfall in Lagos, which severely affected operations at its Oworonshoki Transmission Substation.
According to the company, although the Lekki 132kV Transmission Substation remained operational because water was being continuously pumped out of the facility, the Oworonshoki substation had been forced out of service after floodwaters affected two of its power transformers.
TCN disclosed that the affected transformers, identified as TR1 with a capacity of 60MVA and TR3 with a capacity of 30MVA, tripped on no-load and could not be restored despite repeated attempts.
It added that all the protection and control cables connected to the transformers had become submerged, making restoration efforts impossible until the floodwaters receded.
The company said efforts by its engineers to evacuate the water had so far proved ineffective because of the continued heavy rainfall.
“Our engineers are doing everything possible to evacuate the flood to enable them to test the transformers for restoration,” the company stated.
The TCN apologised for the disruption, expressing regret over the inconvenience to customers of Eko Electricity Distribution Company supplied from the affected transmission substation.