The West African Power Pool (WAPP), has stated that it is working assiduously to synchronize the interconnected Power System among West African member states, which is currently operating three separate networks into a single reliable network. 

The Managing Director/CEO of TCN and the Chairman, Board of Director of WAPP, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed made this known when he declared open a 3-day meeting on the synchronisation of WAPP Networks on Tuesday, 3rd September 2019, in Abuja. 

Mr. Mohammed noted that the synchronisation project was part of WAPP’s mandate by the Authority of the Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to establish a mechanism and institute framework for integrating the national power system of members states into one regional electricity market. 

According to him, the project in terms of scope was the most complex to be executed by WAPP as he expressed confidence that representatives from various companies would work to support its successful execution. 

Mr. Mohammed also used the occasion to appeal to member- states to allow the consultant for the project, General Electric, International access to their power plants to test the governors, tune their power system stabilizers, change their setting where necessary with the ultimate goal of achieving a successful synchronization. 

He also noted that the task before GE in the test would require the assistance of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), over the period of executing the project.

Mr. Mohammed, therefore, called on all participants at the meeting to provide advice, suggestions and actively support and participate in the decisions to the extent possible in executing this project that is so valuable to WAPP.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Information and Coordination Centre, WAPP, Engr. Nazif Abdulkadir said that the project kick-off meeting for WAPP, General Electric International and stakeholders was to officially start the implementation of the project which was related to power system stabilizer, tuning governor, testing, change of settings and perform synchronization test.

He also explained that despite the fact that the power systems in the region were interconnected, the WAPP has been operating with 3 separate synchronous blocks. 

Mr Nazif Abdulkadir further explained that the failed previous attempts to synchronize the Nigeria power system with Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso in 2007 and that of Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal in 2012, prompted the World Bank to provide WAPP with the sum 21.5 million dollars for the project. This Provision was under the WAPP Technical Assistance and Network Integration Project to support efforts to synchronize the WAPP interconnected Power System.

According to him,  the synchronization project was based on the study conducted by Consortium Lahmeyer (now Tracetabel) in 2014, which recommended the installation of SVE at Maitama Substation, PMU at 22 interconnection and SPS and inter trip relay at 5 substations, while the second recommendation relates to tuning governor, testing of power plants, change of setting which is one of the most important conditions for the project.

Mr. Abdulkadir, therefore, expressed hope that in months to come, once all the projectmilestones are completed, the WAPP interconnected power system would be successfully synchronised to allow for power exchange between all member-countries. 

The meeting featured presentation of papers on the action plans of the projects and participants were drawn from power utilities of Nigeria, Togo Benin, Cote d'ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Niger and General Electric International.

U. G Mohammed (MD/CEO) TCN