Mohammed Shosanya
Nigeria will add 150 megawatts (MW) of electricity to its national grid before the year of this year, Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power,has said
He spoke at a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the presidential villa in Abuja,where he also disclosed that the upgrade will be made possible following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the presidential power initiative (PPI).
According to him,the initiative,which is being implemented in partnership with Siemens,intends to boost Nigeria’s electricity supply through a series of strategic projects.
He added:“We believe that before the end of the year, an additional 150 megawatts will be added upon completion of the entire pilot phase”.
He spoke on the progress in the country’s energy sector, emphasising the crucial role of international collaboration, particularly with Germany.
He noted that the Siemens project is a flagship component of the partnership, aimed at implementing both brownfield and greenfield transmission substations under the PPI.
He disclosed that since the agreement was signed in December 2023 during the 28th session of the United Nations climate change conference (COP 28) in Dubai, Nigeria has made significant progress.
Nigeria,he said,has completed the pilot phase of the project up to 80%,adding that it includes the importation and installation of 10 power transformers as well as 10 mobile substations — with eight already commissioned.
He stated that the positive impact of this is that it has added nothing less than 750 megawatts to our transmission grid capacity,he said.
He disclosed that the next phase would involve revamping 14 existing substations and establishing 23 new ones across the country.
“The entire grid is quite fragile and dilapidated. We need to revamp it to ensure stability going forward,” the minister said.
He emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to renewable energy as part of the country’s long-term strategy.
He added:“We have an energy transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060″.