Enugu begins construction of three 33KV feeders to tackle power outages

The Enugu State Government has commenced the construction of three new 33KV electricity feeders aimed at improving power supply to communities in Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Awgu and Aninri Local Government Areas.

The project, being developed from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Station in Ugwuaji, followed a stakeholders’ meeting on electricity held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, during the weekend. It is designed to address prolonged outages linked to the Amechi 33KV feeder.

The Amechi feeder stretches for more than 600 kilometres into three local government areas in Ebonyi State, making fault detection and repairs difficult and contributing to prolonged outages in communities dependent on the network.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Electrification Agency (ESEA), Engr. Christopher Ezeoha, said the government decided to restructure the network rather than simply repair the existing feeder. He said two new 33KV feeders would be constructed from the Ugwuaji station, while an existing feeder would also be extended.

Ezeoha said the new feeders would serve Nkanu East and Nkanu West, while the Amechi feeder would be reconfigured to serve Awgu and Aninri. He added that four new injection substations would be constructed in Nkanu East and Nkanu West to strengthen the distribution network.

He said the intervention would restore electricity to communities including Nkerifi, Nara and Mburubu, some of which had been without power for more than 20 years.

“By the time we finish doing this work, we hope to give them more than 20 hours average daily power supply. That is what the government says we should do,” Ezeoha said.

The Commissioner for Energy, Mr Enyinna Ogbonna, described electricity as a major priority of the administration, while the General Manager of TCN Enugu Region, Dr Tom Inugonum, commended the state government’s efforts. They and the President-General of Isi-Amagunze, Mr Okey Nwatu, urged communities to protect power infrastructure against vandalism to ensure sustained electricity supply.