The Federal Authorities, on Sunday, introduced that testing has commenced on the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric Energy Plant forward of the analysis of electrical energy from the ability to the nationwide grid.
It additionally said that the $1.3bn mission, situated in Niger State, had been related to the nationwide grid, in distinction to claims in some quarters that the plant was not related to the grid.
The Minister of Energy, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this whereas offering solutions to business questions contained in a doc launched in Abuja on Sunday by his Particular Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
The Zungeru Hydroelectric Energy Plant is a significant infrastructure mission with the capability to generate 700MW, making it the second-largest hydroelectric plant in Nigeria, behind the Kainji Dam.
Situated within the Kaduna River, close to the city of Zungeru in Niger State, the plant is to generate 2.64 billion kilowatts-hour of electrical energy yearly, assembly practically 10 per cent of Nigeria’s home vitality wants.
The plant offers flood management, irrigation water and fish breeding amenities and its building companions embrace the consortium of Chinese language companies (Sinohydro Company Restricted and China Nationwide Electrical Engineering Firm).
Business analysts say the mission is predicted to be a big increase to Nigeria’s energy era and is to contribute to financial improvement within the area.
Offering solutions to enquiries concerning the plant on Sunday, Adelabu mentioned the ability had been accomplished, including that its concession course of had additionally been accomplished.
He mentioned, “The funds by the concessionaire have been made and the official handing over of this plant has been achieved to the concessionaire, which is Mainstream Power Restricted, who’re the present operators of Kainji and Jabba hydroelectric energy crops.
“The stage we at the moment are in is technical handing over by the Chinese language consultants that constructed the Zungeru hydroelectric energy plant to the concessionaire. It’s because there’s a one-year defect legal responsibility, the place these contractors have to be on the mission website to make sure that no matter drawback happens inside one 12 months, they’ll repair it.
“They’re working earnestly with the concessionaire and the Ministry of Energy, along with the Bureau for Public Enterprise to make sure that we conclude the technical handover of the plant.
“I can let you know that the testing stage began yesterday, that the facility era on the plant began yesterday, and that it’s going to final about one or two weeks, after which complete manufacturing will begin. And I can let you know with good authority that the Zungeru energy plant can evacuate energy. Due to this fact, it’s full disinformation to say it isn’t related to the nationwide grid.”
Recall that in Might 2023, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Authorities said that it had related the Zungeru Hydroelectric Energy Plant to the nationwide grid, giving a lift to Nigeria’s energy era.
The previous Minister of Energy, Abubakar Aliyu, had introduced the connection of the plant to the grid throughout a send-forth ceremony organised by energy sector officers for him, and the previous Minister of State for Energy, Goddy Jedy-Agba, in Abuja.
“I wish to say that at present the Zungeru Hydroelectric Energy Plant has change into a actuality. We now have at present joined the grid with 700MW. The testing began final evening and data has reached us, with a pictorial view of the meters displaying that the 700MW has gone on the grid.
“Recall that the final two weeks we had been there along with members of the Nationwide Meeting, together with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Energy. All of us visited the location and we at the moment are placing energy on the grid,” Aliyu had said.
