Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has partnered with the China Great Wall Industry Corporation to build three power plants estimated at $171 million.
The deal aims to aid the Nigerian agency in its equipment and tools manufacturing drive and to also increase electricity supply in Nigeria.
Two of the plant will be for manufacturing transformers and solar cells while the third is a high voltage testing laboratory.
While speaking at a news conference in Abuja which had in attendance the Chief Commissioner, China Development Bank, Mr. Lu Yuging this week; NASENI Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Haruna, said the three plants were aimed at transforming the electricity sector.
According to him, the problem of epileptic power supply in the country could only be overcome permanently if there is an indigenous tools and equipment manufacturer.
“Among several reasons adduced for the slow progress in the electricity sector, aspects of inadequate installed generation capacities, transmission, distribution and maintenance of capacity, absence of local industries to produce required component parts and services are factors that are critical,” he explained.
“In the present dispensation of privatisation of the power sector, therefore, NASENI has a major role because of its human capacity and potential to infuse endogenous technical capacity, research and development, power equipment and technology, products development for generation and distribution aspects of the power sector,” the NASENI boss said.
On the funding of the project, Haruna said the Chinese government will provide 85 per cent of the fund through a loan from the Chinese Development Bank (CDB) while the Federal Government of Nigeria will provide 15 per cent of the funding.
He explained that the funding arrangement was part of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Nigerian and Chinese Government when President Goodluck Jonathan visited China in July.
Haruna said the financial details of the loan were being worked out with the Ministry of Finance while the technical details of the plants were being analysed with officials of the CGWIC.
NASENI has been working to boost technology manufacturing challenge in Nigeria. The institute built pole-mounted transformers, 15KVA stabilizers and 415/220V transformers currently in use in NASENI and by other clients.
It plans to set up an assembly plant in Kogi State with the state government having a stake in the project.
