FG, Siemens Target Electricity Capacity Expansion To 25,000MW in 2025, Power Minister

The federal government targets attainment of 25,000 MW electricity expansion in 2025 working in concert with Siemens Nigeria.

Minister of power, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, who disclosed this Thursday, said it was part of the three-phased Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) commenced in 2021.

Engr. Aliyu who was represented by the Minister of state, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, spoke while declaring open the maiden annual workshop of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) which theme was “Moving the Power Sector Beyond the
Transition Electricity Market”.

He said the Federal government is committed to improving electricity supply throughout the country through power sector reforms and energy mix.

According to him, “One significant effort the Muhammad Buhari’s Administration has put in is the Siemens Nigeria and the Federal Government’s deal; this partnership seeks to expand Nigeria’s electricity capacity from the current 4,500MW to 25,000MW. The Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) which began in 2021 is in three phases and is estimated to be completed in 2025.

“The phases cover the upgrading and expanding the Transmission Network and Discos networks, improvement of access to affordable, efficient and reliable electricity and, providing support of industrial and economic growth in the country.

“This first phase which began in 2021 will go on for a period of 10 months with the end goal of pushing to 7,000MW. So far, there has been no hitch as the team is
currently on the pre-engineering phase. The second phase will raise the
availability to 1,000MW and the third phase will raise the availability to
25,000MW.

The Minister noted that sustainable growth in the power sector can only be achieved by adding renewable sources to the energy mix, citing that 80 percent the nation’s energy comes from gas fired plants.

However, he said that government is driving the change to increase the
quantum of renewable energy sources using Solar, Wind and Hydros across the
nation.

“In line with the plan of integrating more
renewable sources into our energy mix, Mambilla is planned to deliver
3,050MW, Kashimbila is planned to deliver 40MW, Dadinkowa is also planned to
deliver 40MW. Zungeru is planned to deliver another 700MW. and Katsina Wind
farm is planed with 10MW”, he stated.

The Minister also assured that
significant progress would be made with the Mambilla Hydro plant as the issues encumbering its progress were being seriously looked into.

Earlier in a welcome remarks, PCAN Chairman, Obas Esiedesa, assured that Journalists would not relent in doing their jobs professionally to ensure that the right things were done and electricity consumers get value for their money.

He tasked power sector operators, especially the regulators for a turn around in the sector, saying “For long, the industry has been stuck in the transition stage,
we want it to move beyond this and go into the willing-seller, willing-buyer state, where free market rules will apply.”