TCN Commissions 330kV Ihovbor Transmission Lines in Edo to Boost Power Evacuation

By Jabiru Hassan

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commissioned the newly constructed Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In Turn-Out transmission lines at the Ihovbor Transmission Substation in Edo State, in a move aimed at strengthening national grid capacity and improving electricity evacuation.

The commissioning ceremony, held on May 14, 2026, was described by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, as a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to improve transmission infrastructure and enhance grid reliability.

According to him, the 14-kilometre double-circuit line connects the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV route to the Ihovbor Substation, creating two additional transmission pathways that improve operational flexibility within the Benin corridor.

“The project has increased the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthened the resilience of power delivery within the Benin corridor,” Abdulaziz said.

He explained that the project will improve the evacuation of electricity generated by the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), while reducing transmission bottlenecks and boosting system stability.

Abdulaziz added that the new infrastructure provides an additional 600MW evacuation capacity, allowing distribution companies to access more bulk electricity for consumers nationwide.

He noted that TCN’s role is strictly limited to transmitting electricity from generation companies to distribution load centres.

“Our job is to transmit the power from the generators to the load centres. It is the responsibility of distribution companies to offtake and distribute to customers,” he said.

He further assured that TCN remains committed to expanding transmission infrastructure to meet growing national demand while urging host communities to support the protection of installations against vandalism.

The Managing Director of Energo Nigeria, Predrag Mihel, said the project involved 30 transmission towers and twin Bison conductors capable of supporting up to 1.5GW from the NIPP and Azura power plants.

He attributed the successful completion of the project to strong collaboration between TCN and Energo Nigeria.

Also speaking, TCN’s General Manager, Engineering, Mojid Akintola, said the project was originally awarded in 2017 but faced delays due to right-of-way challenges and funding constraints, which have now been resolved.

He commended the Ihovbor host community, the contractor, and the TCN management team for ensuring the project’s completion.

The General Manager of the Benin Region, Charles Iwuamadi, said the project adds over 600MW of wheeling capacity to the region, while reiterating that TCN operates strictly as a bulk electricity transporter and does not distribute power directly to end users.

Representing the Enogie of Ihovbor/Evbueka, Elliot Imafido, commended TCN for the project but appealed for increased employment opportunities for indigenes and improved electricity supply to the host community.