Kashimbilla hydropower plants to add 30 megawatts to national grid – Minister

By Linus Aleke, Abuja

The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the Kashimbilla hydro power plant will add no fever than 30 megawatts to the national grid when completed.

Mr Adelabu noted that he secured an assurance from the Contractors that the project would be completed within the next six months or in worst case scenario, one year.

The Minister in a statement signed by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, also said that the new addition is expected to facilitate the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Taraba and Benue States.

Surrounding communities in Taraba State especially those displaced by the Dam construction, he said, are already benefitting from the 10 megawatts currently being distributed directly from the 40 megawatts capacity plant.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the Kashimbilla hydropower plant in Taraba State and the 56 km, 132KV transmission line from Yandev to Makurdi in Benue State, the Minister said the Kashimbilla Power plant with its state-of-the art technology which includes automated tracking and monitoring system (SCADA), is working effectively.

Adelabu who also visited the 132/33KV substation in Amua, Gboko Local government area, Benue State revealed that the four turbines installed in the Kashimbilla power plant are working perfectly well and generating 100 per cent of the installed capacity.

The power plant, he added has an installed capacity of 40 megawatts but only 10 megawatts are presently being evacuated.

According to him, “This inspection visit is to ensure accelerated completion of the facilities to ensure the remaining 30 megawatts are evacuated.
We have begun the process and we have the assurance of the Contractors that this will be completed within the next six months to one year”.

The Minister further said, once the evacuation infrastructure is completed, the four turbines would evacuate the 40 megawatts, effectively.

“The moment we are done with the evacuation infrastructure the stranded 30 megawatts will be evacuated, the entire four turbines will be working at full capacity of 10 megawatts each to make 40 megawatts and this will increase the generation capacity that will be evacuated into the national grid,” he said.

Expressing displeasure that 30 megawatts are stranded, the Minister said it is not economically good for the country, hence the need to ensure the accelerated completion of the evacuation infrastructure.

He reiterated the fact that the project is in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President in ensuring that electricity is taken to every nook and cranny of the country.

Adelabu further revealed that more effort is geared towards improving power generating capacity across the power plants.

He said: “We will also work on strengthening and expanding the capacity of the transmission grid so that as more power is generated, they can be wheeled to the grid. We are working on the infrastructure so that the DISCOs have enough to distribute to electricity consumers.

“The Kashimbilla project is in two phases. Phase one which is 100 percent completed includes 2x60MVA substations in Takumand Wukari Local government areas and 2×7.5MVA sub-station in Donga local government area, Taraba State.
Phase two includes the construction of the 56km transmission lines, the construction of a 132/33KVA substation in Yandev, Benue State where the generated power will be wheeled to the National grid, the 330KVA substation in Makurdi, the construction of a 2 x 60MVA substation in Ugba in Benue State, including the associated switching stations at Zaki Biam, Anyii and Buruku in Benue State,” the Minister explained.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulazeez said that efforts are in top gear to make sure that the 132KV transmission line from Yandev to Apir in Markudi, is finished.

He said, “By the time that transmission line is ready, we can evacuate all the power from the Kashimbilla plant”.

Speaking on the 2nd phase of the evacuation, the Director, Renewable and Rural Access Department, Engr. Abubarka Ali-Dapshima said that the scope of the 2nd phase is to evacuate the 40MW completely to the grid.

“The beautiful thing about this project is that it is a renewable energy project which can mitigate the issues of climate change,” he concluded.