The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has scheduled a two-day planned maintenance operation at its Irrua 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Edo State. The exercise, set to take place on November 2 and 3, 2026, will involve work on the substation's 100MVA power transformer. This maintenance will enable contractors to commission an installed SERGI fire protection system. The work will be carried out between 10:00am and 5:00pm on each day.
The planned maintenance operation is expected to disrupt bulk electricity supply to customers served by five major distribution feeders. The affected feeders are Ehor, Uzebba, Ubiaja, Ekpoma, and Agbor 33kV feeders. As a result, electricity consumers served by these networks will experience temporary supply disruptions during the maintenance exercise. The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) will be unable to take bulk electricity for onward distribution to affected customers throughout the scheduled work periods.
The maintenance operation is crucial for the protection of critical transformer infrastructure. The commissioning of the SERGI fire protection system installed on the 100MVA transformer is a significant aspect of the exercise. This system is designed to provide fire protection for critical transformer infrastructure, which is essential given the operational and financial consequences of major transformer fires at electricity transmission facilities.
The two-day schedule means that the affected distribution networks will experience disruptions between 10:00am and 5:00pm on November 2 and 3. TCN has not indicated whether alternative supply arrangements will be available to cushion the impact on customers during the exercise. The company has apologized to electricity consumers in the affected areas for the inconvenience the scheduled maintenance will cause.
Transformers are among the most critical components of the national transmission network, as their failure can disrupt electricity delivery to multiple distribution networks and thousands of consumers. The planned intervention is part of the technical work required to support the protection of the Irrua transmission facility. This maintenance will ensure the safety and reliability of high-capacity electricity equipment.
The announcement underscores the operational challenges associated with maintaining critical transmission infrastructure. TCN has urged customers to bear with the company during the exercise. The company did not announce a wider shutdown of the transmission network but specifically identified the five 33kV feeders that would be affected by the inability of BEDC to off-take bulk electricity.
Electricity consumers in Ehor, Uzebba, Ubiaja, Ekpoma, and Agbor are expected to plan around the announced interruption as TCN undertakes the transformer protection system commissioning. The maintenance is scheduled to end at 5:00pm on November 3, 2026. TCN's notice was signed by Management and dated November 1, 2026.
Key points
- The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has scheduled a two-day planned maintenance operation at its Irrua 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Edo State.
- The maintenance operation will disrupt bulk electricity supply to customers served by five major distribution feeders.
- The commissioning of the SERGI fire protection system is a significant aspect of the exercise.
