By Sunday Elom
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Mua’azu Sambo, has reiterated the federal government’s readiness to generate 25,000 megawatts of electricity in the country. This, he said, will enhance power-related businesses and other economic activities in the country.
Sambo made the assurance in Katsina State when he inspected some power transmission substation projects including the ongoing wind-mill project located at Lambar Rimi in Charanchi local government area of the state.
The power minister was accompanied by the acting managing director and chief executive officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Abdulaziz. He said that the ministry under the Presidential power Initiative has made a number of procurements to restore electricity and enhance power-related businesses across Nigeria.
Recall that the windmill project contract was awarded in June 2009 with 24 months completion. The project was designed to generate 10 megawatts of electricity for Katsina state and. However, it was reported that the initial contractor moved to the site in 2010 but the project engineer was kidnapped at the peak of the work in 2012. This led to the delay in completing the project on the specified time.
It was observed during the inspection that out of the 37 wind turbines installed for the takeoff of the project, 31 have successfully been working while the power ministry is fixing the remaining six of them that were vandalized before the project would be commissioned.
Each of the turbines is estimated to generate 275 kilowatts. The minister inspected three major power transmission substation projects including 330 KV substation located at Fatima Shema Estate – this is coming from Kano state, construction of 33/11 KV Liyafa substation at Katsina- Kano Road and the 133/33 KV Kankia Transmission Substation.