Siemens Power Project Still On Course – Federal Govt

The FGN Power Company has reiterated that the Nigeria-Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) project for Phase 1 is underway and has recorded notable successes.

The Pilot Project is a quick-win intervention strategy, which will unlock immediate constraints in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) through the deployment of 10 Power Transformers and 10 Mobile Substations across the country.

The managing director of FGN Power Company, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, who made this known, stated that the implementation of PPI, being coordinated by FGN Power Company, is progressing and remains a vital program for Nigeria’s power sector.

According to him, FGN Power Company has taken delivery of about 80 per cent of the equipment for the pilot projects, which are being deployed to critical sites across the country to improve power transmission capacity. Some of the sites include Apo, Ajah, Okene, Nike Lake, Kwanar Dangora, Maryland, Omouaran, Ojo, Amukpe, Ihovbor, Potiskum, Birnin Kebbi, amongst others.

“The Nigeria-Siemens PPI initiative will be delivered in 3 phases; with Phase 1 focusing on “quick win” measures to increase end-to-end operational capacity to 7000MW from the current capacity of about 5000MW. Phase 2 targets expanding the capacity of the transmission & distribution systems to enable evacuation of up to 11000 MW of electricity to consumers, whilst Phase 3 targets expanding the power grid to 25000MW capacity, through further expansion of generation, transmission, and distribution systems,” Anuwe added.

He also said, both the federal government of Nigeria, Siemens A.G and Siemens Energy have remained unswerving to their commitments to the project, which is intended to resolve capacity deficits, in metering infrastructure, transmission and distribution end-to-end system constraints, power systems and network development studies and securing financing for the entire project implementation.

“The successful implementation of projects under Phase 1 will culminate in the delivery of an additional 2000MW, 2 million new connections to the national grid, training of over 5000 engineers to operate the system network, and improved electricity access to millions of Nigerians,” Anuwe added.

Despite the notable successes recorded in this project, the project was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which caused a backlog in Siemens’ production and limited the availability of manufacturing slots. However, a visit by the Minister of Power Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu and the management of FGN Power Company and other key officials to Germany in April 2022 where he met with the leadership of Siemens Energy helped in mitigating the manufacturing challenges and fast-tracking the delivery and execution of the project.

“The installation of the 60MVA Siemens power transformer at Apo Transmission Substation, Abuja was widely publicized, and it is enough evidence that the project is going and will continue to deliver upgraded and expanded electricity supply for the socio-economic benefit of Nigerians,” Mr. Anuwe said.

FGN Power Company wishes to assure all Nigerians that the PPI is committed to delivering high-quality, long-lasting solutions, for effective and sustainable economic development and delivery of critical electrification infrastructure to improve the quality of life for Nigerians.