Residents of Bayelsa State breathe a sigh of relief as TCN announces electricity restoration after a four-month blackout.
This significant news brings joy to Bayelsa and neighboring states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers.
During a news conference on Monday, Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, TCN’s General Manager, shared details about the restoration efforts.
He explained that criminals vandalized around 20 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132KV electricity line on July 29.
“The 132KV line serves as the only electricity source for Bayelsa State,” Anyaegbulem emphasized, highlighting its vital importance.
He acknowledged the immense challenges faced in repairing the collapsed towers, stating, “The blackout lasted until November 30, affecting everyone.”
Anyaegbulem noted the high infrastructure costs, revealing that constructing each transmission tower costs approximately N13 million.
He explained, “Once vandals cut the brackets holding a tower, it becomes vulnerable, leading to additional collapses in the area.”
After four long months, Anyaegbulem joyfully announced that TCN successfully erected and restrung the 20 damaged towers.
“We understand the hardships residents endured during this time; it was incredibly difficult for everyone,” he said.
He shared good news about combating vandalism, stating police arrested around 10 suspects involved in these crimes this year.
“Of those arrested, four have already received convictions, while six remain in police custody,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Anyaegbulem highlighted significant successes TCN achieved this year, hoping to improve future situations.
Among these achievements are a 100MVA power transmission transformer installation at the main Port Harcourt substation and rehabilitation efforts.
Additionally, TCN recently received a 150MVA 330/33KV power transformer at the Adjabo substation, enhancing the region’s power supply capacity.
Anyaegbulem announced upgrades to the Itu 132/33KV transmission substation, including a 60MVA transformer and modern control systems.
“These improvements aim to ensure a more reliable power supply for everyone in the region,” he explained.
He reassured the community of TCN’s commitment to providing uninterrupted electricity to Distribution Companies (DisCos) across the region.
As the lights flicker back on throughout Bayelsa, hope reignites for a brighter future for residents and businesses.
