The Minister of Power Mr Adebayo Adelabu said Wednesday that the country is on track to add an additional 150 megawatts of electricity to its national grid before the end of the year.
The minister said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the 150 megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
He said the initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with Siemens, aims to enhance Nigeria’s electricity supply through a series of strategic projects.
“We believe that before the end of the year, an additional 150 megawatts will be added upon completion of the entire pilot phase,” he said.
The minister outlined significant advancements in the country’s energy sector, emphasizing the crucial role of international collaboration, particularly with Germany.
“We have a bilateral relationship with the Republic of Germany that focuses on energy and electricity support. The name of the game now is about cooperation, collaboration, and partnership,” he said.
He said the Siemens project as a flagship component of this relationship, aimed at implementing both Brownfield and Greenfield transmission substations under the PPI.
He said since signing the agreement in December 2023 during COP 28 in Dubai, Nigeria has made substantial progress.
“We have completed the pilot phase of this project up to 80%,” he noted. This phase includes the importation and installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, with eight already commissioned.
“The positive impact of this is that it has added nothing less than 750 megawatts to our transmission grid capacity,” he said.
He said the next phase would involve rehabilitating 14 existing substations and establishing 23 new ones across Nigeria.
“The entire grid is quite fragile and dilapidated. We need to revamp it to ensure stability going forward,” he said.
He said the efforts were essential for transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape, aligning with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In addition to addressing immediate power needs, the minister emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to renewable energy as part of its long-term strategy.
“We have an energy transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060,” he said.
He said Germany’s expertise in renewable technologies aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s abundant natural resources.
“Germany has technology; we have the sun and wind,” he said, stressing that over 30 states in Nigeria enjoy a minimum of 10 hours of sunshine daily.
The minister also discussed plans for off-grid solutions, advocating for a distributed power model where each state would have its own generating plants.
“This model will shield states from problems on the national grid and ensure rural electrification,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that enhance energy access and sustainability across the nation.
“Together with our partners, we can build a robust energy infrastructure that supports economic growth and improves quality of life for all Nigerians,” he said.
