Akwa Ibom State may have generation capacity through the Ibom Power Plant, but frequent vandalism and transmission constraints can prevent that electricity from reaching consumers.
Consequently, transmission infrastructure is critical to electricity supply, as it is the route through which electricity from the national grid enters the state and the power generated by the state-owned Ibom Power Plant is evacuated.
Akwa Ibom State receives electricity from three sources connected to the national grid through the Aba–Itu 132kV transmission line, the Itu–Adiabo (Calabar) transmission line, and the Ikot Abasi to Eket line from Ibom Power Plant.
However, frequent vandalism of transmission infrastructure in the state has reduced the number of available sources of grid power supply to Aba – Itu line and Ibom Power Plant. The Itu–Adiabo line was vandalised some years ago and remains unavailable.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that frequent faults on the Aba–Itu line are linked to its age and that the line is due for reconductoring to improve its reliability and carrying capacity.
Unfortunately, work cannot commence on the Aba – Itu line because the Itu–Adiabo line is still unavailable due to vandalism. If work begins on the Aba–Itu line, Akwa Ibom would be without a source of grid power supply, making the state entirely dependent on Ibom Power.
TCN has proposed the rehabilitation of the Itu–Adiabo line to provide an alternative grid supply source before the Aba–Itu line is taken out for rehabilitation.
Alternatively, since the reconductoring of the Aba–Itu line is expected to take about three months, TCN suggested that, subject to reliable gas, Ibom Power could operate in island mode and supply electricity within Akwa Ibom while the Aba–Itu line is being worked on.
The recent vandalism of towers along the Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, which serves as the only available evacuation route for the Ibom Power Plant, highlights the importance of the transmission infrastructure serving Ibom Power.
According to TCN, when the Ikot Abasi–Eket line was vandalised in November last year, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh, intervened to facilitate its prompt restoration.
The latest incident again highlights Ibom Power’s dependence on the availability of the transmission network to evacuate its output.
Beyond the immediate restoration of the vandalised infrastructure, TCN has called for greater sensitisation of communities across Akwa Ibom on the need to protect electricity infrastructure.
For Akwa Ibom, protecting transmission infrastructure ensures that available generation is evacuated and delivered, thereby reducing the vulnerabilities that undermine the state’s energy security.
Michael Dada
Media/Publicity Supervisor
Ibom power
