FG Approves $5.79bn For Mambilla Power Project

According to him “Nigeria started talking about it (project) since 1972; that is about 45 years ago. Several efforts had been made to bring it to reality but I’m happy to announce that this government approved the contract today to joint ventures of Chinese Civil and Engineering Company for the engineering and turn-key contract, including civil and electro-mechanical works for 5.792 billion dollars. The construction should take about 72 months (6 years)."

He explained that the project upon completion would add about 3, 050 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. “It is designed to deliver 3,050 megawatts of power. The productive output will be a function of water supply because that is the major source of fuel, is a hydroplane.”

He added that “the project requires the construction of four dams, one of them is about 150 meters in height, the immediate two are 70 meters in height and the smallest of them is 50 meters in height.‎It also includes 700 kilometers of the transmission line. It will be in Taraba state in the area called Gembu, and it will unleash the potential that has been reported about Mambila, including agriculture, tourism, and energy."

“You will recall that sometimes last year, the Chinese government held a summit in South Africa, essentially what that was about was supporting and partnering with African government to do their infrastructure and also funding the Agurua projects, so this was one of the projects of infrastructure that were submitted there and I think it also had the rail component."

“The money is coming from the Chinese government through their Exim bank, so it is an export funding support for them and an import funding for us. Eighty-five percent is supposed to be financed by them and 15 per cent is our own counterpart funding" he added.