The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany on power supply as a way of boosting the power situation of the country.

The agreement, tagged Nigeria-German Energy Partnership Memorandum of Understanding, empowers Germany to execute various power supply projects in different parts of Nigeria.

To this end, Germany is expected to inject 6,500 megawatts of electricity into Nigeria's national grid network between now and 2020.

The country is also expected to expand existing dams, rehabilitate substations and build new power plants in different parts of the country.

The power stations will include hydro plants, thermal plants, coal-powered plants, solar thermal plants, solar photovoltaic panels, wind power plants, waste-to-energy plants and light crude plants near refineries.

In his remark immediately after the signing, President Umaru Yar'Adua said the ceremony was a culmination of the diligence and dedication demonstrated by members of the two delegations that negotiated the partnership.

"It also signals our unwavering commitment to evolving those requisite deliberate, structured policy choices that will enable us rapidly rebuild, upgrade, and expand our critical infrastructure.

"Today's event would not have been possible without the strong support of the German Chancellor, Her Excellency Angela Merkel and her government.

"From the time I discussed the issue of the Partnership with her in June 2007 up till this moment, she has remained steadfast in the pursuit of its actualisation.

"It is evident that the original objective of the partnership, which is to address Nigeria's energy challenge while guaranteeing Germany short and long term energy security, has been properly addressed.

"While assuring you of the readiness of all relevant Federal Government functionaries, not only to buy into, but also to provide the requisite impetus for the process, I wish to congratulate all who have contributed to evolving this partnership for a job well done.

"I assure you that the Nigerian government will ensure the speedy implementation of the agreed terms of the MOU,'' Yar'Adua said.

He suggested the establishment of a joint secretariat to work out the modalities for operationalising the partnership.

German companies involved in the partnership are Siemens, ArGe, E.ON, EVONIK and Kfw Ipex Bank.

Some of the projects are located in Ikot Abasi (Akwa Ibom), Kainji (Niger), Kaduna, Obudu (Cross River), Kano, Maiduguri, Egbin (Lagos), Sapele (Delta), and Afam (Rivers).

Others are in Sokoto, Katsina and Gombe while a nationwide audit of substations and grid bottlenecks would also be carried out.

In his earlier remark, the Honorary Adviser to the President on Energy, Dr Rilwan Lukman, said the partnership provided the basis of cooperation that satisfied the interests of the two countries.

The German delegation was led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hennrich Thiemann.

The agreement was signed on behalf by the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Abdul Rindap, and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Joachim Schmillien.