By Peter Uzoho
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has begun the construction of a 1×7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection distribution substation in Orogun, Delta State, to boost power supply to the community.
NDPHC disclosed this in a statement that was signed by its Head, Communication and Public Relations, Mrs. Olufunke Nwankwo.
The statement quoted the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, as saying during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project that the injection substation which is an NDPHC/National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) intervention project, would also boost economic activities in the community.
Ugbo, explained that the project would step down power from the already existing 33KV line to 11kV, disclosing that the project involves the construction of 4km of 11KV line to distribute the power to the community.
He said seven distribution transformers would be installed also in the community, stating that, with the injection substation in place, faults on the downstream line will not be allowed to trip the entire network.
He noted that the project followed the, “passionate” intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to have the project in the community.
Ugbo said: “We also discovered that it is not adequate for the community hence this purposeful intervention by Niger Delta Power Holding Company at the instance of the Deputy Senate President.”
He added that NDPHC had been engaging the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and had been assured by the Disco that the project aligns with infrastructure upgrade in the community.
Also speaking at the event, Omo-Agege, said President Muhammadu Buhari was making significant efforts to end energy poverty in Nigeria by facilitating the provision of electricity to rural communities across the country.
“The objective has been to ensure that the number of people who use modern energy should increase to reduce social costs and to increase social benefits,” he said.
He noted that the establishment of the power substation was one of the several initiatives of the administration aimed at addressing energy poverty in the country.
“Substations play a critical role in power industry. Substations support the transmission grid in moving power from generation sources to customer’s load, while electrical utilities use them for system protection, switching capabilities and more importantly, voltage transformations.
“It is thus my hope that the construction of the injection substation will boost access to energy in the region and consequently bring about enhanced economic activities and poverty reduction through enhanced income, health, education and improved environment,” Omo-Agege said.
He called on the BEDC to make good use of the facility when completed to boost power supply to the communities, urging the utility to ensure that meters are provided for individual customers.
Earlier, the General Manager, Distribution, Mr. Gadzama Mele, who gave details of the project, stated that the project involves the construction of 7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection substation and 4km of 11kV lines with installation of 7nos 300KVA, 11/0.415kV distribution substations and construction of 2.5km of low tension (LT) lines to take power to the door step of the community.
Mele, also stated that benefits to derive from the project include but not limited to voltage control, localisation of faults and creation of job opportunities for the community.
The President General of Orogun Kingdom, Chief Benson Ndakara, thanked both Senator Omo-Agege and NDPHC for coming to the aid of the community.
