The federal government has said it is planning to kick start a process that would add an additional 4,000 megawatts (MW) to the national grid through hydro power under the second phase of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
This was disclosed yesterday by Vice President Namadi Sambo during the commissioning a 330kv transmission facility in Gwagwalada, Abuja
According to the Vice president, the second phase of NIPPs which will consist some large hyrdos and the operation of 13 existing medium hydro dams mostly in northern part of the country, is expected to help step up wheeling capacity to 20,000mw.
The Gwagwalada facility brings to five the number of substations so far commissioned under the NIPPs. Four others were in 2013 commissioned in Apo, Gwandara, Dei-Dei and Sabon Wuse , all within the FCT and environs
The vice president explianed that the Gwagwalada substation will evacuate power from 434mw Geregu II NIPP plant to the FCT through the 222.6kms 330kV double circuit line from Ajaokuta in Kogi state to Gwagwalada substation.
Samba who noted that the facility is equipped with 2X150MVA 330/132kV Transformers and 2X60MVA 132/33kV transformers, added that “Since the completion of these works, the FCT and indeed the national grid have experienced remarkable system stability especially during system disturbances that have in the past resulted in total system collapses.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr James Olotu, said Gwagwalada substation was conceived in the outskirts as one of the nodes in a 330kV Transmission ring that will provide secured supply to the FCT and Abuja metropolis
Minister of power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, used the occasion to appeal to vandals of power sector infrastructure to give the country a chance at progress.
“We are pleading with those vandalising our gas pipeline to give Nigeria a chance to enjoy what this administration has done. Today we have 6,000mw generation capacity if their is gas, we can evacuate up to 5,500mw,” Nebo said.
