Enugu targets 20-hour power supply with 3 new project

Enugu State is embarking on a significant project to enhance electricity supply, aiming to provide an average of over 20 hours of power daily to communities in four local government areas. The state government has initiated the construction of three new 33KV feeders, originating from the Ugwuaji Transmission Station, to serve Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Aninri, and Awgu council areas.

This development addresses the long-standing electricity challenges faced by these communities, some of which have experienced power outages for over two decades. Christopher Ezeoha, managing director and CEO of the Enugu State Electrification Agency (ESEA), explained that the current single feeder serves an extensive area, making fault identification and resolution difficult, leading to prolonged outages.

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Government has therefore decided to break the long feeder into shorter sections by constructing about three new feeders of roughly 200 kilometres or less each.

The new feeders are designed to break down the long existing feeder into shorter, more manageable sections, each approximately 200 kilometers or less. This will be complemented by the installation of injection substations to transform electricity from 33KV to 11KV, thereby improving the reliability of the supply. The government's long-term vision includes extending similar interventions to other parts of the state and eventually achieving a 24/7 reliable electricity supply.

Beyond improving supply, the state government is also preparing its infrastructure to evacuate power from a proposed 630-megawatt generation facility. Furthermore, plans are in motion to deploy smart prepaid meters and automation technology, including a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, to enhance accountability and enable rapid fault detection and resolution.

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By the time we finish this work, we hope to give them an average of more than 20 hours of daily power supply. That’s what the government has directed us to do.