The Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Ltd., Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, has disclosed that plans are on the way to set up small hydro plants on existing dams in the country.
To this end, Ugbo sought the support of the Federal Minister of Water Resources to develop small & medium hydro projects in the country.
A statement issued by the company’s Head, Communication & Public Relations, Olufunke Nwankwo, in Abuja on Wednesday quoted him speaking when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The NDPHC boss said his company was interested in the dams, especially those with hydro electric capabilities already installed or can be recovered.
He said: “We are here to pay you a courtesy visit and at the same time let you know what our programmes are with regards to renewable so that we can start discussing with your ministry in earnest on how we can develop small hydro resources around the country, preferably, in the northern part of the country because of the quality of electricity in the area”.
Ugbo noted that though the company has ten power generation plants with eight linked to the national grid with about 4,099 mega watts, most are located in the southern part of the country and are unable to generate optimally due to poor transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulieman Adamu, in his address said, Nigeria has over 240 dams across the country with most having the capacity for hydro power.