By Adeyinka Adeniran
In fulfilment of its promise to restore power to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan between 24 to 48 hours, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Wednesday re-energized the facility.
Patients, staff and other stakeholders within the facility erupted in jubilation as the facility brightens up with light.
Corenews reports that the restoration process which started on Tuesday, fully materialized on Wednesday evening.
It was gathered that part of the conditions that was agreed to between both parties while trying to resolve the matter was the unbundling of electricity supply to the tertiary hospital.
The facility was unbundled into three separate parts including: UCH Core area, College of Medicine and others (residential areas and commercial entities), with each running their separate electricity consumption.
Investigation by Corenews reveals that although the IBEDC has reconnected the UCH since Tuesday, the transformer had to undergo ‘soaking’ for about 24hours before loading.
Soaking means, to power the transformer up at a very low voltage for a specific period before applying full load. The process requires powering the transformer for a specific period before placing load on it, since it has been out of use for a very long time.
It was gathered that only the core clinical area will have electricity first, while other areas will follow later.
Sources also hinted that the management of the hospital has procured a new generator for the main theatre, as the old generator had developed issues.
It was also gathered that the management has purchased a new transformer which is being installed.
Recall that the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Monday facilitated a meeting between the management of IBEDC and the UCH where the power issue was resolved after 102 days of being off the power grid.
The crisis bothers on indebtedness of the hospital to the distribution company to the tune of N283.8million.
