Page 12 - AfrElec Week 44 2022
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Nigeria’s $1.2bn Zungeru HPP
to be inaugurated in 2023
NIGERIA NIGERIA’S Zungeru Hydro Electric Power Pro- The construction of the plant is being over-
ject will be ready for inauguration by the first seen by Chinese state-run companies China
quarter of 2023, the country’s Minister of Power, National Electric Engineering Company
Abubakar Aliyu, has revealed. (CNEEC) and Sinohydro, and has been funded
According to Aliyu, as quoted by This Day, by a loan from the Chinese government, through
the $1.2bn plant will generate 700MW of elec- the Exim Bank of China.
tricity. The project is currently under construc- With the project nearly completed, Nigeria
tion on the Kaduna River in Niger State, the is now seeking bids from companies wishing to
biggest in the country. operate, manage and maintain the hydropower
Once completed, the plant will have four 175 plant, for a concession length of 30 years. The
MW turbine units and a reservoir at an elevation qualification stage of the bidding process is due
of 230 metres. to end later in November.
Nigeria to investigate
delays, litigation plaguing
$6bn Mambilla HPP
TANZANIA NIGERIA’S Economic and Financial Crimes once completed, the Mambilla Power Project, in
Commission (EFCC) is carrying out an inves- east Nigeria, will be the largest power-generating
tigation into delays arising from litigation in installation in the country, producing approxi-
realising the planned $6bn hydroelectric sta- mately 4.7 billion kWh of electricity annually. It
tion Mambilla Power Project, it was revealed on will comprise four dams and two underground
Tuesday. powerhouses having 12 turbine generator units
Mambilla is a 3.05GW hydroelectric facility in total.
being developed on the Dongo River. The project The project, was originally estimated to cost
is being undertaken by Nigeria’s Federal Minis- about $5.8bn and promised to generate up to
try of Power, Construction and Housing, with 50,000 local jobs during the construction phase.
the help of Chinese lenders and companies. However, despite a building contract first
Abubakar Aliyu, head of the ministry, told being approved in 2003, construction has not yet
parliamentarians that a legal tussle surrounding started due to numerous legal conflicts between
the project was currently the focus of an EFCC the federal government and contractors, includ-
probe, and also noted that talks with all involved ing China Gezhouba Group (CGGC), Sino-
stakeholders had taken place. hydro and CGCOC (formerly CGC Overseas
“EFCC has stepped into the matter and we Construction Group).
have given them information about it, we have In 2020, the federal government and pri-
given them the history of the power project,” he mary contractor Sunrise came to an arbitration
said, speaking in the Senate. agreement. A year later, Abuja defaulted on the
“Our lawyers have interfaced with the anti- payment. Chinese Export Import (Exim) Bank
graft agency. Unless we are able to pull out of is funding 85% of the estimated $5.8bn project
litigation, we can’t do anything. I don’t think the cost, while the remaining 15% funding will come
investor will bring their money where there is an from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
encumbrance.”
Expected to commence operation in 2030,
P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 44 02•November•2022
