Emmanuel OchayiNigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu announced that the Zungeru hydropower plant, with a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW), stands at 99.8% readiness for operations and is poised to commence functioning this year upon payment of concessionary fees.
The minister announced this while addressing a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Adelabu affirmed that “The hydropower plant is 99.8% ready. It is almost completed, and we intend to start operation this year and commence evacuation to the national grid. Immediately concessionary fees are paid, we will start full operation. So, we don’t have a problem with Zungeru.”
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However, the Minister addressed the absence of the Mambila project from the 2024 budget proposal, citing ongoing legal disputes.
He clarified that due to unresolved legal conflicts surrounding the Mambila Power project, no funds were allocated for it in the proposed 2024 appropriation bill.
“For Mambila, there is no provision for it in 2024. It isn’t a mistake. It is deliberate. It is under international arbitration. Until it is resolved, we can’t do anything about it,” Adelabu stated.
Additionally, he shed light on Nigeria’s power loss during the transmission phase, estimating 40%. He emphasized the necessity for investments in the distribution chain to curtail this loss, suggesting the unbundling of distribution companies (DisCos) and increased state involvement in electricity distribution.
“The existing Distribution Companies (Discos) aren’t making new investments to change their old facilities to new ones. When you lose 40% to evacuation, it is a big loss. So, we need to have enormous investments in the distribution chain,” Adelabu emphasized.
He also outlined plans for expanding transmission facilities within the next two years to drive substantial improvements.
The minister further explained that while the government could oversee transmission, states’ involvement was crucial in monitoring DisCos, securing rights-of-way for transmission lines, and fostering effective electricity distribution.
This update marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s power sector, signaling imminent progress with the Zungeru hydropower plant while acknowledging the challenges and strategies essential for future improvements in the country’s power distribution infrastructure.
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