By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to boost power supply across the country, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of $53.1 million and N2.1 billion as a local component for the procurement and installation of electricity conductors to support the project.
The Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, made this known while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the Council’s meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Abubakar stated that the conductors when installed, would help address the challenge of constant tripping of circuit breakers due to the overloading of electricity lines.
Said he: “The total amount for these four components of conductors is $53,131, 128.93 plus an onshore component of N2, 127, 068, 626. 45″.
Aliyu said the new conductors would be used to upgrade existing power lines, to enhance their efficiency.
“These are existing lines which are being upgraded. The wires will be removed and new ones put in place and the difference is that the new ones will be more efficient because they carry more load than the old ones.
“They will reduce sagging because once the wires are aged, they will sag and they become vulnerable and heavier.
”So, these ones are lighter and can carry more electricity so it will improve efficiency and address the challenges of constant tripping of the breakers due to the overloading of these lines will be tremendously reduced,” the Minister said.
He listed the four components of the contract to include: 173 kilometres Kubotso- Hadeja line; 105 kilometres Kumbotso-Kankiya line; 90-kilometre Benin-Irrua line and 72 kilometres Irrua-Okpella.
Other components included 48 kilometres Okpella-Okene, 58 kilometres Okenne-Ajaokuta lines and 394 kilometres Gombe-Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri line.
The Minister also disclosed that the council approved a N1.46 billion contract for the procurement of 20 transformers ratio analysers for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
