Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times
The Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, on Friday, October 23, inspected a major transmission substation project in Katsina metropolis, commissioned a 120MVA facility in Kankia and attended the groundbreaking ceremony for another substation in Mashi Local Government Area.
The minister said the projects were expected to be completed in March 2027, adding that he would return to Katsina State to commission the facilities upon completion.
The activities were part of efforts to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure and improve bulk power supply across the state.
During the inspection, Tegbe visited the 2x100MVA, 132/33kV Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) transmission substation project at the Katsina 330/132/33kV substation along Kofar Kaura–Kano Road.
He inspected the project and announced plans for its further expansion, which is expected to strengthen transmission infrastructure in the state.
The Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Malam Faruq Lawal Jobe, received the minister on behalf of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.
At the commissioning ceremony in Kankia, Tegbe said the project was part of the Federal Government's efforts to strengthen the national electricity grid and improve transmission capacity.
The Kankia substation comprises two 60MVA transformers with a combined capacity of 120MVA.
Governor Radda said the facility would reinforce the state's transmission network and support electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries.
He added that reliable electricity was important for economic activities, particularly agriculture, agro-processing, commerce, education and healthcare.
The governor urged residents to protect the facility against vandalism.
In Mashi, Radda said the new substation was expected to improve electricity supply to the area and neighbouring communities.
He also highlighted collaboration between the federal and state governments on a proposed 10-megawatt hybrid renewable energy project, disclosing that solar panels and other components for the project had arrived in Nigeria.
Tegbe said the Mashi substation, being executed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), would have a combined capacity of 120MVA, equivalent to approximately 96MW.
He said the facility would improve bulk electricity supply to Mashi and its environs, adding that right-of-way and compensation issues had been resolved.
The Mashi project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027, according to the minister.
The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the substation was expected to address persistent electricity supply challenges and low voltage affecting households, businesses and farming activities in the area.
He explained that the project included the construction of the substation, installation of protection and control panels, and associated civil infrastructure to improve bulk power transmission through the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) network.
Tegbe urged TCN, contractors and supervising engineers to ensure that the projects met the required standards and were completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, the Katsina State Government, TCN and KEDCO attended the activities alongside traditional rulers, community leaders and media representatives, including Katsina Times Online Newspaper.
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