Delta Govt, BEDC, TCN Deepen Partnership to Improve Power Supply

By Admin 

The Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to improve electricity supply across the state.

The commitment was made during a strategic stakeholders' meeting convened by the Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Michael Anoka, with the management of BEDC and TCN in Asaba.

Speaking at the meeting, Anoka said the engagement was aimed at identifying critical areas where government intervention would unlock additional power supply for communities and enhance the quality of life of residents.

He said the state government would continue investing in projects capable of delivering the greatest impact on electricity supply for homes, businesses and public institutions.

While acknowledging recent improvements in electricity supply within Asaba, the commissioner stressed that more work was needed to ensure reliable and sustainable electricity across the state.

He said, the state government is already supporting interventions on key sections of the transmission network to strengthen electricity infrastructure and improve service delivery.

Anoka noted that regular engagements with operators in the power sector would continue as part of efforts to develop practical and lasting solutions to the state's electricity challenges.

The Commissioner also condemned the increasing vandalism of electricity facilities, describing it as a major threat to efforts aimed at improving power supply.

The commissioner called for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to safeguard critical electricity infrastructure.

He said, "Communities must take ownership of public infrastructure by protecting electricity installations from criminal elements," 

He assured BEDC that all requests presented during the meeting would be carefully reviewed and prioritised based on available resources and their expected impact on electricity supply.

He further directed technical teams from the Ministry of Energy and BEDC to sustain consultations to ensure effective planning, coordination and implementation of agreed projects.

"The purpose of this engagement is to ensure government resources are invested where they will deliver the greatest value,"

"We will continue these discussions, execute projects in phases, and provide for additional interventions in subsequent budgets where necessary."

In his remarks, the Managing Director of BEDC, Dr. Abel Enechaziam, commended the Delta State Government for its proactive approach to addressing electricity challenges.

He identified aging infrastructure, vandalism, overloaded feeders, damaged distribution networks, inadequate transformer capacity and insufficient breakers as major constraints to improved electricity distribution.

Enechaziam also stressed the need for dedicated power lines to enhance fault isolation and improve network reliability.

Officials of BEDC and TCN similarly identified persistent vandalism of transformers, conductors, poles and other electricity assets as a major setback to stable electricity supply.

They appealed for stronger protection of electricity infrastructure to reduce outages and improve service delivery across Delta State.

The stakeholders also highlighted priority projects requiring government support, including network reinforcement, transformer upgrades, rehabilitation of vandalised lines, substation expansion and the installation of modern protection equipment.

They expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among the Delta State Government, BEDC, TCN and other stakeholders would significantly improve electricity supply and support economic growth across the state.