Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has stated that its transmission network has a simulated capacity of over 8,700 megawatts, with more than 8,500MVA transformation capacity available to transmit electricity to distribution companies.
The company said the 8,700MW figure is based on static simulation and has not yet been physically tested, noting that additional capacity has been added to the network in the past six months.
The Deputy Director of TCN, Oluwagbenga Ajiboye made this disclosure at a three day Workshop for Energy Correspondenct in Keffi Nasarrawa State North Central Nigeria, with the theme “Assessing the impact anf challenges of Transmission Network in Nigeria.”
Ajiboye, while commenting on the performance of the transmission sector in the past year, said the company successfully wheeled a record 5,801.84 Megawatts across the national grid in 2025, indicating the network’s capacity to handle higher levels of electricity.
He however, identified the ability of distribution companies to take available power as one of the major constraints facing the sector.
DisCos often complain that the available transmission capacity is not where they need power, the Director said, stressing the need for more investment in distribution infrastructure to ensure electricity gets to the consumers.
He further disclosed that TCN had added about 89 power transformers to the national grid during the period under review, increasing transformation capacity and strengthening bulk power supply to distribution load centers.
“Major projects include the addition of 300MVA capacity at Katangwe, increasing the substation’s capacity from 450MVA to 750MVA, as well as another 300MVA transformer commissioned and loaded in Abuja,” he said.
He also disclosed that a 300MVA transformer has been commissioned in Benin and a 75MVA transformer in Ebonyi State has been completed and put into service.
The TCN official stated that the company was also expanding transmission infrastructure to less-developed areas, arguing that electricity must precede economic development rather than waiting for population and businesses to emerge before infrastructure is provided.
He said government and development partners remained key to financing such projects because of the huge capital requirements involved in generation, transmission and distribution.
Ajiboye said about $1.4 billion in multilateral and development financing had been mobilized for TCN’s expansion program in the past year, with support from institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, JICA and the French Development Agency.
He said TCN was also investing in rehabilitation, maintenance and redundancy to enhance the reliability and resilience of the transmission network.