FG approves N31.2bn electricity evacuation contract for Kashimbila Dam

The Federal Government on Wednesday awarded a N31.2 billion contract for the evacuation of electricity from the 40-megawatts capacity Kashimbilla Dam in Takum local government area of Taraba.

The Minister of State for Power, Mr Mohammed Wakil, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. Wakil said that the project was awarded to SCC Nigeria Ltd with a completion period of 18 months. “Approval by council, the contract for award for Kashambila Dam; that is the power segment of 40 megawatts.

“The amount is N31.2 billion in favour of Messrs SCC Nigeria Ltd. “By the time we add 40 megawatts to the national grid it is going to complement the existing power that we are generating in the country.

“Apart from the fact we are also going to gain from the 40 megawatts this will now also lead to creation of employment in that community. “While we can have the formal and informal employment, engineers, artisans and others will benefit from this.

“Further to that we will also have additional, in terms of economy benefits, be it agriculture, irrigation and many others; by the time it is completed it is going to help us a lot.

“And it is in line with the transformation agenda of Mr President to reform the sector.’’

Information minister Labaran Maku also added that the contract approval followed a memo tabled before the council by the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.

“The company had already installed the turbines in the course of the implementation of the project.

“But the infrastructure for evacuating power from Kashimbila Dam to various communities of the North East and indeed North Central had not been awarded.

“But as progress on the dam approaches completion toward the end of the year, the minister of power came to council today with a memo proposing a contract for the evacuation of power from the dam.’’ (NAN)