Uninterrupted Power Supply: Imo State Govt Continues Major Electricity Upgrade as New Transmission Line and Injection Substation Get Underway
The Imo State Government, through the Orashi Electricity Company Limited under Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Light Up Imo Project, is undertaking major electricity infrastructure projects aimed at delivering a more reliable and efficient power supply to the Orlu axis and surrounding communities.
One of the key projects is the construction of a 50-kilometre, 132kV transmission line from Owerri to Orlu. This high-voltage transmission corridor will transport bulk electricity directly from the national grid to the Orlu axis. By transmitting power at 132,000 volts, the line significantly reduces energy losses over long distances, ensuring that more electricity reaches homes, businesses, and industries.
In addition to the transmission line, a 15MVA, 33/11kV injection substation is nearing completion at the State University of Innovation, Omuma, in Oru East Local Government Area . The substation will receive electricity from the transmission network and step down the voltage from 33kV to 11kV, making it suitable for distribution to homes, educational institutions, commercial centres, and nearby communities. The facility is expected to have the capacity to serve approximately 9,000 to 12,000 households.
Together, these two projects form an integrated electricity network. While the new transmission line will deliver a stronger and more reliable supply of electricity into the Orlu axis, the injection substation will ensure that the power is safely and efficiently distributed to end users.
Upon completion, the projects are expected to reduce power outages, improve electricity reliability, support businesses and industries, attract new investments, enhance economic activities, provide the stable electricity needed for the University of Innovation to operate as a modern research and technology hub, and stimulate economic growth in Orlu zone.