RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN OYO STATE OF NIGERIA: ASSESSEMENT OF EXISTING 33kV FEEDER NETWORK CAPACITY

Abstract

According to state reports only 45% of Nigerian populations have access to electricity and only 10% of rural dwellers have access electricity. 24% of the population and vast developmental potentials are in the rural areas of Sates such as Oyo, justifying the need of this study. The aim of this study is to assess the transmission capacity of the existing rural primary feeder network (33 kV) and to determine ways of reinforcing the 33 kV network by thermal and voltage requirement for adequate distribution of electricity in view of prospective full scale electrification and power demand of the rural areas of Oyo State. The translations of results are expected to be useful for electrification planners. This work is done by using data of maximum power demand allocations to fully electrified areas of the State to compute expected range of power demand per capita, and applying normal mode simulations and calculations by iterative approximation and direct methods (matrix) solutions of the equations of state. The following conclusions were made from an analysis of the results: The load densities per capita range from an expected 0.011 kW to 0.094 kW; expected potential load demand for the whole state is about 534 MW (this is huge compared to the total 103.7 MW supplied by the utility); at 33kV the capacities of these networks are inadequate due to overloading of lines (55%) and critical bus voltages (82%); the total injection substation capacity (225 MY A) is inadequate for meeting the potential demand of Oyo State, including electrification of the rural areas; and upgrading the voltage of the existing network will improve the distribution capacity significantly and solve overloading and voltage problems. Consequently, the following recommendations were made: the 33 kY network should be reinforced by upgrading to 132 kY; the total substation capacity in Oyo State should be increased by installing more 132 kY substations to relieve the existing fully loaded ones. Otherwise, this will serve as a constraint to any full scale rural electrification development in Oyo State intending to feed from the national grid.