Siemens power project: Nigeria to take delivery of mega transformers September, says minister

The federal government says the first batch of mega transformers under the presidential power initiative (PPI) will arrive by September.

Abubakar Aliyu, minister of power, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by his special adviser on media, Isa Sanusi.

In December 2021, the federal executive council (FEC) approved $1.9 million and €62.9 million for phase one of the presidential power initiative (PPI).

The first phase of the PPI seeks to modernise, rehabilitate and expand the national grid.

“First batch of the transformers are expected to start arriving in Nigeria in September 2022,” Aliyu said.

He said the transformers had passed the factory acceptance test at the Siemens’ transformers factory in Trento, Italy.

According to the minister, Kenny Anuwe, managing director of the Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company (FGN-Power), who led a delegation of engineers from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), witnessed the factory acceptance test conducted on July 28, 2022.

“The factory acceptance test paves the way for Siemens Energy to start delivering the transformers to Nigeria,” he added.

In April, Aliyu said he led a delegation to Siemens Energy factories in Berlin and Frankfurt and held meetings with the senior leadership of Siemens Energy.

The meeting, he said, was on the need to fast-track the delivery of the early orders expected to kick-start the transformation of Nigeria’s electricity.

“The successful factory acceptance test shows Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens Energy is on track. It also shows the federal government’s commitment to addressing electricity challenges,” he said. 

In July 2019, the federal government signed a power project deal (PPI) with Siemens AG to increase electricity generation to 25,000 megawatts (MW) in six years.