$1.3bn Zungeru 700mw hydroelectric plant 47% completed

Power outage will soon become a thing of the past in the country as the Zungeru 700mw hydroelectric power plant in Zungeru has attained 47 per cent completion.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Mr Xiao Nie, Deputy Project Manager, CNEEC-Sinohydro Consortium, the Chinese firm handling the project.
Nie told newsmen on tour of the plant site in Zungeru that the $1.3 billion project was expected to be completed in 2020.
He explained that the project comprised four units of 175 megawatts each, adding that the first phase would be completed in December, 2019, while the remaining would be ready at three months intervals.
He explained that the project which was inaugurated in 2013 was initially expected to be completed in 2019 but that some issues with the host communities caused the extension of the deadline.
“The project consists of a dam for storage reservoir comprising an embankment and a Roller Compacted concrete gravity section and a gated concrete spillway with appropriate dissipating structure.
“It has main power intake structure, a four-unit out-door-type power house, an electrical substation, 332-KV double-circuit transmission line to Shiroro-Jebba line, and a 132-KV double-circuit transmission line to Tegina Sub-station.
“Zungeru reservoir has a maximum operation water level of 230m and total storage capacity of 11.4×109m3,” Nie said.
According to him, the project generating capacity is 700mw, with annual power generation of 2,640GWh, and it is also expected to generate and supply electricity to the National Grid.
He added that the plant was also expected to improve the residential living conditions, improve electricity supply and boost industrial development in the country.
“It will also be helpful for flood control and the development of fisheries and agriculture. The navigable period and the length of the fairway will also be extended,” Nie said.
He said the consortium had assisted the host communities in different ways, including donation of primary school to Zungeru town and helping other communities to improve their access roads.
According to him, the consortium also provided bore holes and hosted a charity clinic, among others, in the host communities.
The project manager said that the group employed no fewer than 3, 000 local staff members in the communities, with youths trained in different skills.