Ejiofor Alike
6 January 2009
Lagos — As part of efforts to reduce over-dependence on gas for power generation in the country, the Federal Government will soon commence work on a 600megawatts capacity Hydro Electric Power Project in Zungeru, Niger State .
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has also embarked on massive rehabilitation of the country's existing hydro power stations, including Kainji, in addition to the World Bank- assisted rehabilitation work going on at the power station.
THISDAY gathered that Kainji Power Station, which has an installed capacity of 760 megawatts, but currently generating 580 megawatts is benefiting from World Bank assistance amounting to $135 million.
Managing Director of PHCN and Executive Vice Chairman of its Board, Alhaji. Bello Suleiman told THISDAY yesterday that the rehabilitation work and improved gas supply within the last few days have increased the country's current electricity generating capacity from 2,400 megawatts to 3,100 megawatts.
"The design for the Zungeru Hydro has been completed and we are about to begin construction work on the project. The last administration awarded the contract without any design but now, we have designed the project," he said.
"Zungeru Hydro Station is the downstream of Shiroro Hydro Station; that is, they are on the same river (River Niger ). Water from Shiroro will go down to Zungeru, just as Jebba is the downstream of Kainji," Suleiman added.
He noted that due to the effective water management system put in place by PHCN, the generating capacity of Jebba has improved considerably.
"Hydro Power Stations are not designed to generate power at all time of the year because they required a particular volume of water for operation; but because we manage the water effectively, Jebba is generating quite high at the moment. All the machines are working," he said.
The PHCN boss also said that the supply of gas to the various gas-fired power plants in the country had improved within the last few days.
He disclosed that the generating capacity of Egbin Power Station in Lagos and the AES also in Lagos have improved to 850 megawatts as against the 200megawatts both plants generated few weeks ago.
THISDAY however gathered that most of the country's gas-fired power station has been performing far below capacity due to non-availability of gas.
Sapele Power Station has an installed capacity of 1,020 megawatts but does not generate electricity at the moment due to lack of gas supply.
It was also gathered that aside the on-going rehabilitation efforts by the management of the station, no major overhaul has taken place in the station since 2000.
Afam Power Station has installed capacity of 987 megawatts but presently generates less than 400 megawatts.
Egbin Power Station is presently generating about 600 megawatts even though it has installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts.
The 414megawatts capacity plant at Geregu in Kogi State is generating half of its installed capacity due to lack of gas.
PHCN had in 2008 told the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel that about N80 billion was required by all the seven power stations in the country to operate at maximum capacity.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
