By Izunna Okafor | Head of CommunicationsÂ
A delegation of the FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, over the week, paid a working visit to key power infrastructure projects at Awada and Atani, as part of efforts to monitor progress and reinforce the Company’s commitment to improving electricity supply and network reliability across Anambra State.
The delegation, which comprised some members of the Company’s Management Team, included the Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Dr. Emeka Egbujor; the Head of Operations, Engr. Ifeoma Uba; the System Planner, Engr. Uche Ezekwem; and the Head of Communications.
At Awada, the FirstPower Team first met with the Assistant General Manager of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Awada, Engr. Okonkwo Ifeanyi Titus, where they held discussions on the progress of ongoing works, before proceeding to the project site for an on-the-spot assessment.
The major intervention at the Awada Transmission Station involves the replacement of the faulty 60MVA, 132/33kV power transformer with a higher-capacity 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer, alongside the construction of a dedicated 33kV bay and overhead line connection for the new transformer, as well as the installation of an earthing transformer.
The upgrade is expected to significantly expand the capacity available at the Transmission Station and address the transformer deficit that has affected power supply and network operations within the Awada and Onitsha axis.
With the installation of the 100MVA transformer, FirstPower will be better positioned to receive and distribute increased bulk power to residential, commercial and industrial customers, while reducing load constraints associated with the previous transformer capacity.
The dedicated 33kV bay and associated protection infrastructure will also strengthen operational stability and enhance the reliability of outgoing feeders by reducing the risk of faults and avoidable disruptions across the network.
The Management Team also visited the Atani 2x15MVA, 33/11kV Injection Substation, where general maintenance and upgrade works are ongoing under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
The scope of work at the facility includes the replacement of two aged 33kV outdoor transformer panels, replacement of nine obsolete 11kV bus panels, and the reconstruction and upgrade of the substation’s control room.
The intervention is aimed at modernising the facility, improving the safety and reliability of its equipment and restoring optimal operational capacity to meet the growing electricity needs of customers within the affected areas.
Upon completion, the upgraded Atani Injection Substation is expected to reduce forced trippings on the outgoing feeders, improve asset protection and minimise the risk of equipment failure and other technical faults that can disrupt electricity supply.
The project will also restore the substation’s full 30MVA wheeling capacity, thereby strengthening power supply to industrial, commercial and residential customers across the Ogbaru area and parts of the Onitsha distribution corridor.
Speaking during the inspection, the FirstPower Managing Director, Engr. Okafor, reaffirmed the company’s resolve to continue investing in critical infrastructure and working with relevant partners and stakeholders to address existing network limitations and build a more reliable electricity distribution system for Ndị Anambra.
He noted that infrastructure development and maintenance remain fundamental to the Company’s drive to improve service delivery, explaining that FirstPower is pursuing both immediate interventions and long-term network development initiatives to meet the electricity demands of a growing population and economy.
FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited remains committed to its mandate of providing efficient, safe and reliable electricity distribution services and will continue to pursue strategic investments in critical power infrastructure, as well as partnerships that support sustainable growth and system improvement.
The working visit afforded the FirstPower Management Team an opportunity to assess the level and quality of work at both locations and engage directly with the relevant teams at the sites on the progress of the projects, towards achieving the desired aims.
With work actively progressing at the sites, the projects are expected to, upon completion, significantly strengthen the Company’s network, improve the stability of electricity supply and enhance service delivery to customers across the affected areas, while also improving overall customer experience.
More photos from the visits:
