‘Four Power Plants to Add 524MW This Year’

• ‘Four Power Plants to Add 524MW This Year’

At least 524 megawatts of electricity will be added to the quantum being generated in the country before the end of this year, the Federal Government has said.

It stated that four power plants would produce the 524MW, adding that more electricity would be generated by two other plants in the first and second quarters of 2018.

The total quantum of electricity generated across the country hovers around 3,500MW to 4,000MW.

Outlining what the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing was doing to achieve incremental power, the Special Adviser on Communications to the Minister, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said the Dadin Kowa hydro plant in Gombe, a diesel/gas fired plant in Kaduna, an emergency project in Rivers State, and the Kashambila hydro plant in Taraba State would add more power to the grid this year.

He said, “With the provision of funds and determination to fulfil the promises made at the media briefing on incremental power, the resuscitation of the 29MW Dadin Kowa hydro power plant in Gombe State should be completed in November going by the assurance given to the minister in March this year by the project manager. The 132KV lines to evacuate the power are in place.

“The diesel and gas dual fired 215MW power plant in Kaduna is also expected to finish this year. There is also another power emergency project that President Muhammadu Buhari approved for General Electric to give 240MW of power in Afam, Rivers State. It is also expected to be completed this year.

“The 40MW Kashimbilla Hydro power plant in Taraba State has been revived and now 99 per cent completed. The work on the evacuation of power including transmission lines, switchyards and substations from the power plant to Takum, Wukari and the existing substation in Yandev is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2018, subject to availability of funds.”