Kunle Kalejaye 24 August 2016, Sweetcrude. Lagos – Gas remains Nigeria’s most reliable source of power but it is only one amongst many other under-utilised solutions, according to Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
Fashola, who spoke of his ministry’s energy mix plan for the country involving hydro, coal, solar and other sources of clean energy, stated that if properly harnesses, these would give the country reliable power supply.
“Mambila power station for example, is likely to be our most defining in the road to incremental power. Situated in Taraba State, it will potentially add 3000mega watts to the grid and yet this is a hydro-electric project, not gas.
“Solar and other renewable energies will also play a major role in our road map to incremental power. We have recently signed 14 PPAs for the delivery of 1,125MW of solar power.
“Other renewable energy projects, such as the 10MW wind plant in Katsina, are also in various stages of completion,” Fashola said.
He stated that coal formed a large part of the targeted fuel source in the recently publicised energy mix plan, adding that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, NBET, was working on a suitable tariff for coal-to-power that would form the basis of a Power Purchase Agreement, PPA.
“My team and I recently inspected the dual fired 215MW plant in Kaduna and the 450MW Azura plant in Edo state and both are progressing very well,” he also said, as he disclosed that other hydro initiatives such as the 40MW plant in Kasimbilla, the 39MW in Dandin Kowa, 30MW in Gurara and the 700MW in Zungeru were at various stages of construction.