The Transmission Company of Nigeria upgraded four transmission substations in Lagos this month to increase the state's bulk electricity transmission capacity.
These upgrades aim to stabilize the power grid in Nigeria's commercial hub, reducing outages for residential and commercial customers who rely on consistent energy for economic activity.
The projects included the commissioning of two 60 MVA 132/33kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substations at Apapa Road [3]. Additionally, TCN installed two new 100 MVA power transformers at the Ijora 132/33kV substation [4]. These specific installations are part of a broader effort to strengthen the infrastructure within the Lagos region.
Reports on the total capacity added to the city vary. Some data indicates the upgrades added about 360 megawatts [1], while other reports state the increase is about 480 megawatts [2]. The expansion is part of a larger grid rollout that includes 840 MVA transformers [5].
The upgrades were backed by the World Bank as part of a strategic move to improve bulk power delivery [2]. By upgrading these four substations, the federal government intends to reduce transmission losses, and ensure that more generated power reaches the end-user.
The focus on the Apapa Road and Ijora sites is intended to address specific bottlenecks in the Lagos power corridor [3, 4]. These areas serve as critical nodes for the distribution of electricity across the metropolitan area.
“TCN upgraded four transmission substations in Lagos this month to increase the state's bulk electricity transmission capacity.”
The expansion of transmission capacity in Lagos represents a shift toward addressing the 'bottleneck' problem in Nigeria's power sector, where generation often exceeds the grid's ability to transport electricity. By increasing the megawatt capacity at key nodes like Ijora and Apapa, the TCN is attempting to reduce the frequency of system collapses and load shedding in the country's most populous economic center.
