Power generation on the national grid crossed 4,000 megawatts at 6am on Wednesday as the Federal Government announced that it had commenced the construction of transmission lines and substations to add 204MW to the grid.

Data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja showed that the grid recorded an off-peak power generation of 3,231.6MW the preceding day being Tuesday, while the peak generation on same day was put at 3,993.5MW.

This eventually crossed 4,000MW on Wednesday, as it hit 4,045.1MW at 6am same day, indicating a 3.97 per cent increase or 154.6MW, while the frequency of the grid was 49.19 Hertz.

This came as the Federal Government announced that it had begun the construction of a 132 kilovolts transmission line and a 2X60MVA transmission substation, as well as a switching station in Ekiti to raise the power grid’s capacity by 204MW, which would further improve supply in the host state.

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, said the project consisted of a 50km stretch of 132kV transmission line from Ikere in Ado Ekiti, with a turn-in turn-out at Ijesa Isu that terminates at Ilupeju Ekiti.

Aliyu, in a statement issued in Abuja by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, said the project also had a 2X60MVA, 132/33kV transmission substation with four line bays at Ijesa Isu Ekiti with a switching station at Ikere in Ado Ekiti.

The minister, who was represented by the Managing Director, TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, was quoted as saying, “This is a very strategic project and we believe it will have a massive impact on bulk power transmission in Ekiti and environs.

“The project is part of the many projects being undertaken by the TCN in pursuit of its grid expansion programme which is in line with Mr. President’s mandate for the expansion of the power sector for sustainable development.”

Aliyu said TCN was executing substations and line projects which were all at various stages of execution in various transmission regions.

“These are a clear indication that the Federal Government is not relenting in its determination to ensure that the nation’s power sector receives the desired boost,” he stated.