By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has begun construction of a new transmission substation in Mashi Local Government Area of Katsina State and upgraded the capacity of an existing facility in Kankia, as part of efforts to improve electricity supply across the state.
The Minister of Power, Engr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, inaugurated the construction of the Mashi 132/33kV transmission substation on Friday, alongside the commissioning of two new power transformers at the Kankia transmission substation.
The minister also inspected an ongoing 200MVA Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) transmission substation project in Katsina town.
The projects are expected to strengthen the state’s electricity transmission network, improve bulk power supply to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and support households, businesses, farmers and industries.
MASHI SUBSTATION TARGETED FOR MARCH 2027
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Garo, Mashi Local Government Area, Tegbe said the new substation would provide additional transmission capacity to address electricity supply challenges in the community and surrounding areas.
The project involves the construction of a 2 × 60MVA, 132/33kV transmission substation, providing a combined transformer capacity of 120MVA, equivalent to approximately 96MW.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is funding the project through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
He urged TCN, the contractor and supervising engineers to maintain quality standards and work towards completing the project within the revised timeline.
The contract was signed on March 24, 2023, with an initial duration of 24 months. Although the original completion date was August 2025, the deadline has now been revised to March 31, 2027.
Tegbe called on the institutions responsible for delivering the project to ensure that construction progresses steadily and produces measurable results for residents.
He also confirmed that issues concerning rights of way and compensation for people affected by the project had been resolved, with compensation for the land and equipment involved paid before construction commenced.
The minister said the substation would strengthen electricity supply for farmers, traders and businesses in Mashi and neighbouring communities.
He urged residents to cooperate with the construction team and protect the facility and associated transmission lines against vandalism.
According to him, safeguarding the infrastructure would help ensure that the investment delivers lasting benefits to the host community.
KANKIA SUBSTATION CAPACITY INCREASES BY 150%
In a separate development, the minister commissioned two 60MVA, 132/33kV power transformers at the Kankia transmission substation.
The intervention increased the facility’s installed transformation capacity from 60MVA to 150MVA, representing a 150 per cent increase.
Before the upgrade, the substation operated with two 30MVA transformers, providing a combined capacity of 60MVA. However, TCN said the capacity had become insufficient to meet growing electricity demand within the area supplied by KEDCO.
Under the upgrade, an existing 30MVA transformer was replaced with two 60MVA transformers, while the remaining 30MVA unit was retained.
The additional capacity is expected to accommodate previously suppressed electricity demand and improve the availability and reliability of bulk power supplied to KEDCO for distribution to consumers.
Speaking during the commissioning, Tegbe said the investment would create greater opportunities for businesses, agricultural processing and other economic activities.
He described the project as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen critical electricity infrastructure and improve the conditions needed for economic growth.
The Kankia project was executed by TCN under the Federal Ministry of Power, with China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute (JSPDI) serving as the contractor.
Awarded in June 2021 and funded by the World Bank, the project was completed in June 2026.
TCN said the upgrade would strengthen bulk electricity supply to communities served by the Kankia substation, including Kankia, Dutsinma, Danbatta and Musawa, as stated in the project information released by the company.
KATSINA GIS SUBSTATION PROJECT UNDER INSPECTION
The minister also inspected the ongoing 2 × 100MVA, 132/33kV Gas-Insulated Switchgear transmission substation project at the Katsina 330/132/33kV substation.
The project, located in Katsina town, is designed to provide a combined transformation capacity of 200MVA when completed.
According to the project description, the facility is expected to increase bulk electricity availability for KEDCO, reduce pressure on existing transmission infrastructure and improve the reliability of power supply across Katsina town and adjoining communities.
The project includes the installation of two 100MVA power transformers, gas-insulated switchgear, protection and control systems, and associated civil infrastructure.
Tegbe said the government was undertaking several electricity infrastructure projects in the North to improve power supply and support economic activities.
He urged TCN management and contractors to accelerate work on the GIS substation, expressing the hope that it could be completed before March 2027.
KATSINA GOVERNOR WELCOMES FEDERAL INVESTMENT
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Mashi transmission substation project, describing it as an important investment in the state’s electricity infrastructure.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Radda said the project would help improve electricity supply and create opportunities for economic activities in Mashi and neighbouring communities.
He also commended the minister for supporting cooperation between the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government on a proposed 10MW hybrid renewable energy project.
According to the governor, solar panels and other components for the renewable energy project had arrived in Nigeria.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders and representatives of electricity sector institutions.
Other dignitaries included the Chief of Staff, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Chairman of Mashi Local Government Area, Salisu Kallah Dan Kada; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power; and representatives of TCN, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and KEDCO.
WHAT THE PROJECTS MEAN FOR KATSINA RESIDENTS
The three projects are designed to address different aspects of electricity transmission in Katsina State.
The Mashi project will introduce 120MVA of new transformer capacity, while the Kankia upgrade increases installed capacity by 90MVA, from 60MVA to 150MVA. The Katsina GIS project is expected to add another 200MVA when completed.
However, additional transmission capacity does not automatically guarantee uninterrupted electricity for consumers.
The actual benefits will depend on the completion and effective operation of the facilities, the availability of electricity from the wider power network, the capacity of distribution infrastructure and the ability of KEDCO to deliver the available power to customers.
For residents and businesses in the affected communities, the key measure of success will be whether the investments translate into more reliable electricity, fewer supply interruptions and improved opportunities for commercial and agricultural activities.
