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Zungeru hydropower boost Nigeria’s electricity generation

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Abuja, Oct. 9, 2023: Sinohydro Corporation Ltd., and China National Electric Engineering Company, both Chinese consortium, have said the Zungeru hydropower project would boost sustainable electricity power supply in Nigeria.

It also said that the project is set to make a significant contributions to Nigeria’s power generation capacity.

The consortium made this known in a joint statement  by the organisations on Sunday.

According to the statement, the Zungeru hydropower project proved China-Nigeria partnership at its best and it would boost Nigeria’s power generation capacity.

The statement said, “The Zungeru project is estimated to generate 2.64 billion kWh of electricity annually, which will meet close to 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total domestic energy needs.

“It will provide flood-control, irrigation, water-supply and fish-breeding facilities; although construction works on the power plant started in May 2013, it is expected to take 60-months for completion with initial completion date of 2018.

“However, legal and financial challenges related to ecological settlement in the affected area delayed the project commissioning to 2021.

“The global pandemic COVID-19 further delayed the construction period as the site was shut down from operation in the year 2020 during the peak of the pandemic.”

The statement explained that the engineering, procurement, and construction contract was awarded to a Chinese consortium comprising China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) and Sinohydro.

It said amidst security challenges such as attack on workers at the site in 2022, Zungeru hydropower project progressed, adding that as of Aug. 15, 2023, the project was successfully handed over to the Federal Government.

“The Zungeru hydropower project located on the Kaduna River in Niger is a 700MW hydroelectric facility built by a Chinese consortium comprising Sinohydro Corporation Limited and CNEEC.

“The project which costs about $1.3bn approximately (₦162.9 billion) is the biggest power project completed in Nigeria in the past ten years and one of the biggest power projects in Africa.

“To avail preferential loan facility from the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of China; the project is designed to generate 2,630 GWh energy with a total installed capacity of 700MW.

“The main components of Zungeru hydropower project include 2,400m Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity feed dam, underground powerhouse behind the RCC dam, tailrace-channel and two switchyards on both banks of the river.

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NCP approves preferred bidder for Zungeru power plant

The National Council on Privatization (NCP) has approved the appointment of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) as the preferred bidder for the concession of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The NCP, which held its second meeting of the year on Tuesday, is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,  with members drawn from the public and private sectors.

The meeting also approved the commencement of the process of negotiations and the execution of the concession agreement with Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited.

The approvals were some of the highlights of the Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa.

Mr. Alex Okoh, the Director General of the Bureau for Private Enterprises, which serves as NCP Secretariat, presented a memo seeking the Council’s approval of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited as the preferred bidder in the concession of the Zungeru HydroElectric Power Plant.

According to him, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited was chosen among 11 other companies after a technical evaluation of the bids by the Bureau and other stakeholders. After deliberations by members, Council approved BPE’s recommendations.

Council also approved, on the request of BPE, the sale of a property located at Nos. 3-5 Moloney Street, Lagos, (belonging to defunct NITEL/MTEL and housing the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), to the Lagos State Government for the sum of N2.5 billion.

NCP also directed the BPE to conduct a nationwide audit of NIPOST properties to ascertain their current state and identify any forms of encroachment on them.

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Zungeru Hydropower project to engage skilled professionals

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Minister of State for Power,  Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba says  more than  300 key and highly skilled professionals are to be engaged on completion of Zungeru Hydropower project.

Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, Assistant Director Press, Ministry of Power, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said Jeddy- Agba said this while witnessing the Non Load Test on Unit 1 of the 700 Mega Watts (MW)Zungeru Hydropower project in Niger State,

He said  “the dam is built of a new engineering technology utilising the Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) which has ensured the shortening of the completion of the core civil construction period by over two years.

“While the Electro-mechanical components especially the 4-units Francis turbines are from the reputable world class Original Equipment Manufacturers, General Electric, “he said.

The minister added that the implementation of the project was aimed to further enhance the engineering and technical knowledge acquisition of Nigerian engineers in line with the Presidential Order No 5.as signed by  President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the order had immensely transformed most of the engineers on the project to a world class specialists based on acquired expertise on the project.

Speaking on the economic benefits of the project to the people of Niger State, the minister listed these to  include: Water Supply Schemes for Community Use, Dry Season Farming and Irrigation, Flood Control Mechanism and, Aqua-tourism opportunities.

Others he said were  increased economic and social well-being of the host community.

” That leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to working together with all  strategic partners in attaining the core objectives across the various energy reforms policies  and would continue to promote and drive such initiatives”, Jeddy-Agba said.

He thanked the Chinese Government for the unique cooperation and synergy existing between China and Nigeria, adding that it had remained  pivotal to  the progress thus far made on the project.

He  also thanked the  Niger Governor, Bello Abubakar and the people of the state adding that with the joint efforts of the state and the Federal Government, all due compensations would be paid to affected communities.

Speaking earlier,  the Project Consultant, Mr Johnson Bamidele  Adewumi,  Chairman, Decrown West Africa Company Ltd had said that by the completion of the project, the Federal Government would deliver a world class project by every standard.

He spoke on behalf of Decrown-Tractel Joint Venture.

 “This project will deliver 2,630 Gigawatt hour (GWh) of clean renewable electricity annually from the second largest dam reservoir in Nigeria, “he said.

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Minister directs early completion of Zungeru power plant.

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The Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, has directed the early completion of the Zungeru Power Plant in Niger State.

Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, Assistant Director Press, Ministry of Power, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday, indicating Aliyu spoke while receiving the consultants and contractors, Messrs. CNEEC-Sinohydro consortium in charge of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of 700 Mega Watts, Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project.

The minister assured the contractors of the Federal Government’s resolve to surmount the challenges faced by the contractors in the discharge of their duties.

He said that the challenges bother on Security, COVID 19, cost adjustment owing to the extra work outside the contracted sum and the delay in release of funds by China Exim Bank.

Aliyu further informed the contractors of efforts of the ministry of power, through the Ministry of Finance, at resolving the issue of opening of the escrow account in a commercial bank.

“Prescribed in the Subsidiary Loan Agreement with Exim bank of China which negates the current policy of Government which transferred Government accounts in all the commercial banks to the Treasury Single Account (TSA),” he said.

Aliyu expressed satisfaction with the presentation made by the contractors  and encouraged them to meet the Dec  28 deadline of completing the project.

He also  assured them of addressing all constraints that may hinder the delivery of the project.

Speaking earlier during his presentation, the project Director, Dr. JBO Adewumi of Coyne et Bellier (Tractebel) / Decrown Consultancy Service, said the assessed overall percentage of completion of the project is about 90%.

He pleaded for quick resolution of the constraints enumerated.

The Zungeru hydro power plant project is located on Kaduna River, 8 kilometer upstream of the confluence with the Gumna River in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

This is approximately 20 km northeast of Zungeru, 25km southeast of Tegina, 43km northwest of Minna and 77km downstream of the Shiroro power Plant.