By Adedapo Adesanya
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has inaugurated a facility to test generators and power transformers sold in the Nigerian electricity market.
Speaking at the inauguration of SON Mobile Generators Testing Laboratory and Mobile Transformer Equipment on Thursday, the Director-General of the agency, Mr Ifeanyi Okeke, said it was no longer business as usual for assemblers and importers of these products.
He said it was important for these products to meet the quality benchmarks, stressing that buyers must have value for their money.
According to him, all information supplied on generators and transformers will be verified and tested for compliance with Nigeria’s industrial standards.
He noted that Nigerians depended on the use of generators to power homes and industries, adding that there was a need for SON to ensure that the quality of generators in the market complied with standards.
“As a support to the federal government’s power improvement plan, SON has identified the power transformer as an important component of the power supply chain that requires monitoring.
“This will ensure compliance with Nigeria’s industrial standard requirements,” he said.
The SON DG noted that in fulfilment of its mandate, the agency had invested in both stationary and mobile testing facilities to conduct on-the-spot testing of transformers and generators.
“The mobile testing facility is equipped to carry out tests on generators such as load testing, protection test, generators efficiency, power factor, voltage regulation test, insulation test, emission test of generators exhaust and noise-level check.
“These are critical tests that will determine the quality of the generator and will supply information to our product certification department for MANCAP certification.
“The mobile testing on the transformer will include insulation resistance, winding test, ration test, polarity test, leakage resistance, partial discharge test and no-load loss and excitation current among others,” he said.
Mr Okeke said the provision of these mobile testing facilities would assist SON achieve total coverage of Nigeria, and full implementation of MANCAP for local assemblers, importers, and sellers of the two products in Nigeria.
He added that it would also assist in sanctioning all suppliers of substandard generators and transformers and conduct spot tests at the entry point of such products into Nigeria.
According to him, it will ensure that all measuring equipment used is calibrated and resolve all complaints received from buyers of such products.
Mr Okeke also reaffirmed SON’s commitment to ridding the market of substandard products, while advising Nigerians on the need to patronise certified Made-in-Nigeria products.
Adding his input, Mr Richard Adewunmi, Director of Lab Services, SON, said the mobile laboratory would help save time, and money, and reduce the number of complaints received from customers.
He said the lab would assist SON begin implementing a recall policy on transformers and generators that could not pass conformity and certification tests.
Also, Chief Francis Meshioye, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), commended SON for the achievement, noting that it was an incentive to manufacturers and importers of transformers and generators.