Power outage in Port Harcourt as TCN transmission station explodes

road, Rumuola, Ikwerre from Wimpey junction to Rumuigbo junction, Ada George, GRA Phases 1, 2, & 3 and Oroworukwo community. Other areas affected

Amassive 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 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.

Management says areas affected are Rumuokwuta, some parts of NTA include Olu Obasanjo road, some parts of Rumukalagbor, Rumuibekwe, Rumuola under the flyover bridge, Rumuola link road, and some parts of Stadium Road.

Businesses in the metropolis are also adversely affected as many are counting their losses in millions of naira. Those who spoke with Business A.M. said they 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 selfgeneration using petrol and diesel. TCN and PHED pleaded with electricity consumers in the metropolis to “bear with the management as they we work to restore supply.