… Businesses count losses in millions
Ben Eguzozie, in Port Harcourt
A massive explosion at a transformer of Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) transmission station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital has plunged most parts of the Port Harcourt metropolis into severe power outage.
Management of TCN said its engineers were working to repair the damaged transformer, but did not give details of when the work would complete.
Power supply to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), one the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) from the TCN had been anything but regular, as both parties accuse each other of poor business dealings.
TCN accuses the DisCos of power rejection, while the DisCos claim the transmission firm of pounds them with ‘power over-supply’ leading to load rejection or stranded power. By end of 2020, the total stranded power in Nigeria was 3,742 MW.
According to TCN management in a statement, the areas affected are:
Rumuokwuta, some parts of NTA road, Rumuola road, Ikwerre road from Wimpey junction to Rumuigbo junction, some parts of Ada George, GRA Phases 1, 2, & 3, Oroworukwo community, Olu Obasanjo Road, some parts of Rumukalagbor, some parts of Rumuibekwe, Rumuola under the flyover bridge, Rumuola link road, and some parts of Stadium Road.
Businesses in the metropolis have been counting their losses in millions of naira. Some of them who spoke with Business A.M. said they had lost hugely due to the outage, with no sign of restoration any time soon.
Nigeria power deficit is estimated at 20,000 MW to 30,000 MW based on self-generation using petrol and diesel.
The TCN and PHED pleaded with electricity consumers in the Port Harcourt metropolis to “bear with us as we work with TCN to restore supply.”
