Siemens: Nigeria’s mega transformers pass factory acceptance test – Official

Mega Transformers ordered by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) have successfully undergone factory acceptance test at Siemens’ transformers factory in Trento, Italy, a statement from the office of the minister of power has said.

According to the statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Power, Malam Isa Sunusi Media, the first batch of the transformers are expected to start arriving in Nigeria in September 2022.

The statement stated that the Managing Director of Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company (FGN-Power) Mr. Kenny Anuwe, who led a delegation that included engineers from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) witnessed the factory acceptance test conducted on July 28, 2022 in Trento, Italy. 

It added that the factory acceptance test paves way for Siemens Energy to start delivering the transformers to Nigeria. 

This was coming after the Minister of Power Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu led a delegation to Germany in April, where he paid visits to Siemens Energy factories in Berlin and Frankfurt, and held meetings with the senior leadership of Siemens Energy on the need to fast-track the delivery of the early orders that will kick-start the transformation of Nigeria’s electricity. 

“The successful factory acceptance test shows Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens Energy is on track. It also shows the federal government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges,” the statement quoted the minister. 

In December 2021, the Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed and his Power counterpart secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council of €63 million (Euro) for the procurement of equipment to boost power supply under the PPI — whose first phase will provide 10 mobile power sub-stations and 10 mega transformers that will be deployed across the country to boost and stabilise electricity supply. 

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari initiated the PPI that will enable Siemens Energy to upgrade Nigeria’s electricity systems.

The first phase of the PPI seeks to modernise, rehabilitate and expand the national grid by investing in the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, and distribution systems.