N540bn Zungeru power project to be commissioned in 4 phases – Contractor

The Contractor handling Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project, Sino Hydro, has assured that the $1.3 billion (N54 0billion) 700 megawatts electricity project will be commissioned in four phases this year.

A statement by the company’s Deputy Project Manager, Li Xiao Ming, specifically said the first turbine, which will generate 175 megawatts, would be commissioned in the first quarter.

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According to him, the second turbine, which will also generate 175 megawatts, is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter while the third turbine is expected to be commissioned in the third quarter and the fourth in December 2022.

It would be recalled that the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project being constructed by a Consortium of CNEEC and SINOHYDRO, is a 700 megawatts (940,000hp) hydroelectric power plant under construction in Niger State.

Zungeru will be the second-largest hydroelectric power project in the country after the 760 megawatts Kainji power project.

It is one of the biggest power projects in Africa for which government secured a loan facility from the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of China.