FG begins 11 power projects, plans 3,750MW generation

The Federal Government on Monday disclosed that four hydropower projects with a combined capacity to inject 110 megawatts of electricity to the national grid had been completed.

It also announced that 11 other hydropower projects with a total capacity of 3,750MW of electricity had been initiated, as work was currently ongoing at the various project sites.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this in a document on the infrastructure development by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

In the document, which was made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday by the FMWR, Adamu explained that Nigeria’s hydropower potential was 12,220MW, adding that Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams account for 1,930MW of this figure.

He said, “To further boost energy sufficiency in hydropower generation, the ministry has completed and/or concessioned the following: Gurara Hydropower Project, Kaduna

State, 30MW; Kashimbila Hydropower Project, 40MW; and Dadin-Kowa Hydropower Project, 40MW.”

Nigeria’s power generation has been hovering around 3,500MW and 4,500MW despite the fact that the power generation and distribution arms of the sector were privatised since November 2013.

The government and operators in the sector have been making efforts to grow the country’s output in terms of power generation, with the water minister describing the contributions from hydro as vital to this drive.

Speaking on other hydropower projects currently being worked on, Adamu said the 11 of them were initiated by the Federal Government and were at various stages of completion.

He outlined the projects to include the Gurara II Hydropower Project, Niger State, 360MW; Kiri Hydropower Project, Adamawa State, 36MW; Itisi Hydropower Project, Kaduna State, 40MW; Bawarku Hydropower Project, Benue State, 182MW; and Makurdi Hydropower Project, Benue State, 1,500MW.

Others include the Katsina-Ala Hydropower Project, Benue State, 460MW; Farin-Ruwa Hydropower Project, Nasarawa State, 20MW; Manya Hydropower Project, Taraba State, 182MW; Tede project, Oyo State, 220MW; Mangu, Plateau State, 182MW; and Lokoja Hydropower Project, Kogi State, 750MW.

The minister explained that the activities of the ministry were guided by the National Water Resources Master Plan; Immediate and Long-Term Strategies for the Water Sector (2016-2030), also known as the Water Sector Roadmap; and the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 6).