- Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed these developments while addressing industry queries in a document released in Abuja
The Federal Government announced on Sunday that testing has commenced on the 700-megawatt Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State, ahead of its integration into the national grid.
Contrary to some claims, the $1.3bn project has indeed been connected to the grid.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed these developments while addressing industry queries in a document released in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
The Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant, situated on the Kaduna River near Zungeru town, is a significant infrastructure endeavor poised to generate 2.64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, thereby fulfilling approximately 10 percent of Nigeria’s domestic energy demands.
The plant provides flood control, irrigation water and fish breeding facilities and its construction partners include the consortium of Chinese firms (Sinohydro Corporation Limited and China National Electric Engineering Company).
Industry analysts say the project is expected to be a significant boost to Nigeria’s power generation and is to contribute to economic development in the region.
Providing answers to enquiries about the plant on Sunday, Adelabu said the facility had been completed, adding that its concession process had also been completed.
He said, “The payments by the concessionaire have been made and the official handing over of this plant has been done to the concessionaire, which is Mainstream Energy Limited, who are the current operators of Kainji and Jabba hydroelectric power plants.
“The stage we are now in is technical handing over by the Chinese consultants that built the Zungeru hydroelectric power plant to the concessionaire. This is because there is a one-year defect liability, where these contractors need to be on the project site to ensure that whatever problem occurs within one year, they can fix it.
“They are working earnestly with the concessionaire and the Ministry of Power, together with the Bureau for Public Enterprise to ensure that we conclude the technical handover of the plant.
“I can tell you that the testing stage started yesterday, that the power generation at the plant started yesterday, and that it will last about one or two weeks, after which total production will start. And I can tell you with good authority that the Zungeru power plant can evacuate power. Therefore, it is complete disinformation to say it is not connected to the national grid.”