Darkness Hits Lagos as Fire Guts TCN’s Alagbon Transmission Sub-station

By Ejiofor Alike

Many parts of Lagos will experience darkness as a 66MVA 132/33kV power transformer at the Alagbon Transmission Sub-station in Ikoyi exploded and caught fire in the early morning hours of Thursday.

The facility, which belongs to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is located in the franchise area of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).

The cause of the fire is still unknown but THISDAY gathered that as the fire fighters battled to put out the inferno, residents of Ikoyi could see smoke fumes wafting into the air.

It was also learnt that the incident has plunged the whole of Lagos Island up to parts of Epe into darkness.

However, the spokesman of Eko Disco, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, has described the fire incident as a “minor one,” adding that his company and TCN are working to restore power to the affected areas “in a matter of few days”.

THISDAY gathered that the TCN had recently installed one 66MVA 132/33kV power transformer in the injection sub-station to increase the bulk load wheeling capacity of the station to 312MVA on 132kV voltage level.

Despite this recent upgrade, the sub-station still recorded a breakdown of some of its facilities last month, plunging Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Park view estate, Obalende, Idumagbo and other adjoining areas into darkness.

More to follow…