Nigeria targets 30GW of electricity by 2030 as Buhari inaugurates hydropower station in Taraba

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, inaugurated some projects in the power sector in pursuit of  his administration’s aim to ramp up electricity supply.

The projects include the Kashimbila multipurpose dam, 40 megawatts (MW) hydropower station and associated 132 kilovolts (KV) switchyard, transmission line and distribution substation (phase one).

The projects — inaugurated less than two weeks to the end of Buhari’s tenure — are located at the Kashimbila dam site in Taraba state.

Speaking at a virtual ceremony held at the state house in Abuja, the president underscored the importance of the project. 

He highlighted its role in his administration’s commitment to achieving the target of 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity in the country by 2030, through the ‘electricity vision 30:30:30’.

According to Buhari, under the electricity vision initiative,  renewable energy would contribute at least 30 percent to the energy mix, thereby expediting the expansion of electricity access.

The president said the implementation and completion of the Kashimbila projects align with his government’s policies to alleviate poverty, generate employment opportunities, enhance healthcare services, and improve the overall standard of living of Nigerians.

“The Kashimbila multipurpose dam in Taraba, with a storage capacity of 500 million cubic metres, was conceived principally to checkmate the threat of the imminent collapse of the structurally weak and poisonous Lake Nyos,” he said.

“The dam, located at the line of volcanic activities in Cameroon Republic, which collapsed could result in flooding and affecting millions of lives and properties.

“Even though the dam was meant to serve as a buffer to contain the possible discharge of water of Lake Nyos, the engineering design maximised the benefits of the Kashimbila ecosystem by incorporating a 40MW hydropower station, 60,000 cubic metres per day water supply scheme, 2,000 hectares of irrigation system, an airstrip, fishing activities and tourism potentials.”

Buhari also said phase one of the power evacuation component of the project includes the 132KV switchyard, four substations in Takum, Wukari, Rafin Kada, Donga, and the rehabilitation of the existing 132KV Yandev substation.

He added that the first phase also involves the installation of a 245km, 132KV double circuit line from Kashimbila to Takum, Wukari, Yandev, as well as a 45km, 33kv double circuit line from Wukari to Donga through Rafin Kada. 

“I understand that the water supply component that is intended to service Takum and its environs has reached about 65 percent progress, while the engineering design for the 2000-hectare irrigation scheme has been fully completed, and physical works will commence in due course,” Buhari added.

Buhari also assured Nigerians that other projects aimed at boosting electricity supply, such as the 40MW Dadinkowa hydropower plant in Gombe and the 700MW Zungeru hydropower Plant in Niger state, are also ready for commissioning. 

He commended the federal ministry of water resources and the federal ministry of power for their efforts in delivering the Kashimbila project.

The president also expressed hope for increased collaboration among various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in infrastructure development.