PHEDC’s recent report of a fault on the 132kV Aba–Itu transmission line has once again highlighted Akwa Ibom State’s dependence on reliable transmission infrastructure for electricity supply.
With adequate and reliable gas supply, the state-owned Ibom Power Plant can operate in island mode and supply electricity within Akwa Ibom while the Aba–Itu line is being repaired.
However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported recent vandalism on the Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, which serves as the only available evacuation route for Ibom Power.
Although Akwa Ibom has generation capacity through Ibom Power, faults and vandalism of transmission infrastructure expose how vulnerabilities within the power value chain can prevent available electricity from reaching consumers.
The reliability of transmission infrastructure is critical to electricity supply because it provides the network through which electricity from the national grid enters the state and through which power generated by Ibom Power is evacuated within and outside the state.
Akwa Ibom has historically had three major transmission routes, the Aba–Itu 132kV line, the Itu–Adiabo transmission line (Calabar), and the Ikot Abasi–Eket line through which Ibom Power evacuates.
Unfortunately, vandalism of transmission infrastructure has reduced the number of available routes in the state.
The Itu–Adiabo line, which could provide an alternative source of grid supply to the state, has remained unavailable following vandalism some years ago.
This leaves the Aba–Itu line as the only available source of electricity from the national grid into Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, TCN has stated that the frequent fault on the Aba–Itu line is due to the aged transmission line that requires reconductoring to improve its reliability and carrying capacity.
TCN has also stated that major rehabilitation of the Aba–Itu line requires the line to be taken out of service.
However, doing so while the Itu–Adiabo line remains unavailable would leave Akwa Ibom without any available source of electricity from the national grid.
This means the state would have to rely solely on Ibom Power for electricity supply during the period of the repair.
Historically, with adequate gas supply, Ibom Power could operate in island mode and supply electricity within Akwa Ibom while major rehabilitation work is undertaken on the Aba–Itu line.
However, this arrangement also depends largely on the availability of the Ikot Abasi–Eket evacuation line.
The recent vandalism of towers along the Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, which serves as the only available evacuation route for Ibom Power, presents another major limitation.
If Ibom Power cannot evacuate its generation, available generation capacity cannot be delivered to consumers.
This operational reality demonstrates the interconnected nature of the power value chain.
A fault on the Aba–Itu line can restrict electricity entering the state from the national grid, while an outage on the Ikot Abasi–Eket line can restrict electricity generated by Ibom Power within the state from reaching consumers.
Beyond restoring vandalised infrastructure, TCN has called for greater sensitisation of communities across Akwa Ibom on the need to protect electricity infrastructure in the state.
For now, Akwa Ibom’s energy security depends largely on the fast-tracking the ongoing repair of the Ikot Abasi–Eket line, the rehabilitation of the ageing Aba–Itu line, and adequate gas supply for Ibom Power to operate in island mode when required.
