As more foreign companies show interest in doing business in Nigeria, an American firm, Urban Green Technologies LLC, which specializes in small wind and renewable energy systems, is through one of its subsidiaries, Sun Africa, South Africa, seeking investment opportunities in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in the areas of substation facility upgrade, grid stability and injection of new technology to enhance grid reliability.

A team of the Company led by the South African Adviser of Sun Africa, Mr. Goran Rajsic, has made its intention known during a visit to TCN Headquarters in Abuja. In a presentation to TCN Management, the company expressed interest in partnering with TCN among other things, on upgrade of power transmission equipment and facilities, infusion of solar-generated power to the grid and construction of mini-grids across the country for more efficient and stable grid management.

Mr. Goran Rajsic said that the company was equally seeking to undertake an in-depth study of the current status of the grid to identify areas where new technology could be injected to complement grid operations as well as construct substation energy storage facilities.

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In his response, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz expressed appreciation to the delegation and assured them of TCN’s preparedness to partner with capable and credible investors and indicated that a committee would be set up, headed by the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP), Engr. Victor Adewumi, to work closely with Sun Africa on investment possibilities in TCN.

Engr. Adewumi in his remarks requested further details on Sun Africa’s proposal with regards to further strengthening the nation’s grid, bearing in mind the unique nature of the country's power structure.

He stated that as the world continues to go green through renewable energy sources, Nigeria has joined the global trend with its Solar Farm located in Giwa, Jigawa State, which has a capacity of 1000MW, patterned after the Marrakesh, Moroccan solar energy farm. TCN, he said, is already working on the 132kV transmission line that would evacuate the Giwa solar farm project when completed. He said plans have been made to install 330/132kV power transformers along the line route connecting the solar farm to the nation's grid.

In his contribution on the team's presentation, the General Manager, Power Systems Planning and Development (PSPD), Engr. Shehu Abba informed the group that TCN was strictly guided by a 20-Year Transmission Expansion Master Plan which he advised the visiting team to acquaint themselves with before proposing new investment to TCN. He finally informed the team of TCN's plans to provide open access to all electricity generation companies intending to access the national grid.