The Federal Government has indicated its readiness to commence the Phase 2 of the Siemens Power Project as part of its ongoing initiatives to holistically overhaul Nigeria’s electricity transmission system and inject 12,000 megawatts of power into the national grid.
The Media Adviser to the Minister of Power, Mr Bolaji Tunji, was quoted by The Punch newspapers as saying on Sunday that work under the second phase has commenced following the successful conclusion of financing arrangements with Siemens Energy.
He said: “Phase 2 of the Siemens projects is now underway, following the successful finalisation of financing. This phase will deliver seven upgraded existing power lines and ten new ones, covering 544 kilometres and capable of carrying 7,140 megawatts of power.”
The minister’s aide described the power lines upgrades as a critical component of the PPI, which aims to raise transmission capacity in stages to achieve the long-term target of 12,000MW agreed under the bilateral pact, stressing that the groundwork for the project has been laid through the delivery of key equipment during the pilot stage.
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On the achievements recorded under the pilot phase of the project, Tunji said: “FGN Power Company, the special purpose vehicle for the PPI, successfully received 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations from Siemens Energy under the pilot stage. This is to significantly improve the nation’s transmission capacity by over 1,300MW. Installation is over 80 per cent completed, hence the beginning of Phase 2.”
He expatiated that the equipment had been strategically deployed across the country such as Okene, Amukpe, Potiskum, Apo, Ihovbor, Birnin Kebbi, Ajah, Nike Lake, Kwanar Dangora, Maryland, Omouaran, Ojo, Saapade, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology Owerri, and Eleyele in Ibadan to strengthen weak points in the grid and reduce the frequency of system collapses.
Tunji also spoke on the on financing for the second phase as Nigeria would contribute its conunterpart funds which will be complemented with Siemens Energy’s funding commitment.
On the potential impact of the Phase 2 project on power supply nationwide, the minister’s aide projected that the “Phase 2 projects will significantly increase electricity reliability and accessibility for millions of Nigerians. The Federal Government is upgrading the transmission network through this project.”
It would be recalled that the Siemens Power Project was based on a pact signed between the Federal Government and the Government of Germany on December 1, 2023, with a view to boosting power generation and distribution and by so doing, reduce the rate of electricity power outages in the country.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had during his interaction with National Assembly lawmakers on the project earlier this year, to the legislators that the Phase 2 project would commence in the first quarter of this year.
