TCN Modernises Dan-Agundi Substation With New Transformer, Digital Systems

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has upgraded the Dan-Agundi Transmission Substation in Kano State with a new 100MVA power transformer and modern digital control and protection systems to strengthen electricity transmission capacity and improve operational efficiency.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, disclosed this on Thursday during the commissioning of the 1 × 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer at the substation.

Abdulaziz said the project increased the substation’s available transformation capacity from 60MVA to 160MVA, equivalent to 128 megawatts, following a fire incident that damaged two of its three existing transformers.

He said the incident had significantly reduced the substation’s capacity to supply electricity to Dan-Agundi, the Emir’s Palace, Kano ancient town and adjoining communities.

“Recognising the urgency of the situation, TCN undertook the installation of an additional 100MVA, 132/33kV power transformer,” he said.

Beyond installing the transformer, the project involved replacing the existing analogue control and protection panels with modern digital systems and extending the control room to accommodate the upgraded equipment.

According to Abdulaziz, the improvements would enhance equipment monitoring, fault identification, protection and operational control, thereby strengthening the substation’s overall performance.

The project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by TCN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, was executed by China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute (JSPDI) and completed in June 2026.

The TCN chief said the intervention was expected to support bulk electricity supply to the downstream distribution network and accommodate growing demand in Kano, a major commercial centre in northern Nigeria.

He added that the project was estimated to benefit approximately 80,330 people, subject to electricity availability and the capacity of the associated distribution network.

Abdulaziz said the upgrade aligned with TCN’s broader efforts under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion, and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP), which seeks to expand transmission infrastructure, rehabilitate existing facilities and modernise critical equipment across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

He said the programme supported the Federal Government’s power sector development objectives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The TCN managing director acknowledged the World Bank’s support for the project and commended the Federal Ministry of Power, the contractor and host communities for their contributions to its completion.

He also urged residents to protect transmission infrastructure against vandalism and other threats, stressing the importance of respecting transmission Right-of-Way corridors and reporting suspicious activities around electricity facilities.

Reliable transmission infrastructure is essential to delivering bulk electricity from the national grid to distribution companies, which supply homes, businesses and public institutions. However, improvements at transmission substations alone do not guarantee uninterrupted electricity, as supply also depends on generation availability and the capacity of downstream distribution networks.