Chances of steady supply of electricity are becoming brighter in the near future following the recent disclosure by the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) that the Zungeru 700mw hydroelectric power plant in Niger State has gone half way to delivery.
Deputy Project Manager, Mr. Xiao Nie, told journalists on a tour of the project that the $1.29bn (about N473bn) project was expected to be completed in 2020.
In his explanations, Nie said the project was made up of four units of 175 mw each, adding however, that the first phase would be released by December 2019 while the remaining would be released after every three months.
According to him, “The project which was inaugurated in 2013 was initially expected to be completed in 2019 but was delayed by unresolved issues with the host communities,” saying “When completed, the 700MW power plant would supply 2,640GWh to the national grid annually”.
“The project consists of a dam for storage reservoir comprising an embankment and a roller-compacted concrete gravity section, a gated concrete spillway with appropriate dissipating structure.
“It has a main power intake structure, a four-unit out-door-type power house, an electrical substation, 332 KV double circuit transmission line to the Shiroro-Jebba line, and a 132 KV double circuit transmission line to Tegina Substation.”
“Zungeru reservoir has a maximum operation water level of 230m, and total storage capacity of 11.4×109m3.”
“It will also be helpful for flood control, the development of fisheries and agriculture; the navigable period and the length of the fairway will also be extended,” he added.
He pointed out some of the corporate social projects of the company to host communities including construction of a model primary school to Zungeru town and construction of access roads to other communities.
The contractor had also delivered boreholes, emergency assistance, and hosted a charity clinic activity among others to the host communities.
This is in addition to generation of jobs for more 3,000 indigenes and continuous training of youths in different skills.
