Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba says more than 300 key and highly skilled professionals are to be engaged on completion of Zungeru Hydropower project.
Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, Assistant Director Press, Ministry of Power, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said Jeddy- Agba said this while witnessing the Non Load Test on Unit 1 of the 700 Mega Watts (MW)Zungeru Hydropower project in Niger State,
He said “the dam is built of a new engineering technology utilising the Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) which has ensured the shortening of the completion of the core civil construction period by over two years.
“While the Electro-mechanical components especially the 4-units Francis turbines are from the reputable world class Original Equipment Manufacturers, General Electric, “he said.
The minister added that the implementation of the project was aimed to further enhance the engineering and technical knowledge acquisition of Nigerian engineers in line with the Presidential Order No 5.as signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the order had immensely transformed most of the engineers on the project to a world class specialists based on acquired expertise on the project.
Speaking on the economic benefits of the project to the people of Niger State, the minister listed these to include: Water Supply Schemes for Community Use, Dry Season Farming and Irrigation, Flood Control Mechanism and, Aqua-tourism opportunities.
Others he said were increased economic and social well-being of the host community.
” That leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to working together with all strategic partners in attaining the core objectives across the various energy reforms policies and would continue to promote and drive such initiatives”, Jeddy-Agba said.
He thanked the Chinese Government for the unique cooperation and synergy existing between China and Nigeria, adding that it had remained pivotal to the progress thus far made on the project.
He also thanked the Niger Governor, Bello Abubakar and the people of the state adding that with the joint efforts of the state and the Federal Government, all due compensations would be paid to affected communities.
Speaking earlier, the Project Consultant, Mr Johnson Bamidele Adewumi, Chairman, Decrown West Africa Company Ltd had said that by the completion of the project, the Federal Government would deliver a world class project by every standard.
He spoke on behalf of Decrown-Tractel Joint Venture.
“This project will deliver 2,630 Gigawatt hour (GWh) of clean renewable electricity annually from the second largest dam reservoir in Nigeria, “he said.
