Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has declared the completion of the long-awaited Zungeru Hydroelectric power project, which is now supplying 700 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Aliyu made this announcement during a farewell event held in his honour, alongside Minister of State Goddy Jedy-Agba, recently.
He emphasized that this development will enhance power supply throughout the country and bridge the gap in Nigeria’s electricity demand.
The Zungeru hydroelectric power plant, a $1.2 billion investment by the federal government, aims to expand base-load generation and improve the grid’s capacity to accommodate renewable energy
In addition to ensuring energy security by reducing reliance on gas for power generation, the project is providing employment opportunities for many Nigerians and also contributing to flood control, irrigation, and water supply in the region.
Aliyu expressed his satisfaction with the achievement, stating that the Zungeru hydroelectric power plant has now become a reality.
The project successfully connected to the grid, supplying 700 megawatts of electricity after testing commenced on Wednesday night.
Related Posts
He mentioned that the completion and operation of the Zungeru power plant marks a significant milestone for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which is committed to further improving the country’s power supply.
Regarding the Siemens project, Aliyu revealed that transformers have already been installed in Abuja and Ajah in Lagos, while 10 large mobile substations have been cleared. He also mentioned a contract for over 13,000 kilometers of distribution line that the Ministry of Power presented to the Federal Executive Council.
These initiatives demonstrate the government’s efforts to enhance the power infrastructure in Nigeria.
Dr. Johnson Adewumi of Decrown West Africa Company Limited, the consultant for the project, confirmed the successful test run of the Zungeru hydroelectric power plant without any issues.
He provided details of the test protocol and highlighted the stable performance of the plant, achieving a peak capacity of 718 megawatts.
Sanusi Garba, Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), emphasized that the completion of the Zungeru power plant has not only added 700 megawatts of clean generation capacity but has also diversified the country’s electricity supply mix, enhancing security of supply.
The ministry has obtained a generation license from NERC for the project’s special purpose vehicle and executed a market participation agreement with the Market Operator, preparing the power plant for commercial operation.
