Power:FG ,Chinese coys sign MOUs to boost weak transmission capacity

By Etuka Sunday
Federal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with three Chinese companies to further boost the weak
electricity transmission capacity in the country.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Power, Timothy
Oyedeji quoted the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo to have
tasked the Chinese Companies to fill in the gap so as to boost the
nation’s capacity to wheel generated power to end users.
The Minister identified the critical role of Transmission, saying that
it is needless if generated power cannot be used, hence it is
important to strengthen the engine that would ensure that the chain is
not broken.
While calling for more foreign investment, the Minister identified the
Chinese as special people that have capacity to identify
opportunities, “little wonder that China is doing so well with us in
the sector”, he added.
According to him, we will continue to support and defend your
interests and investments here, he further requested the Chinese to do
even more in terms of investing in the sector, adding that in the area
of renewable, a lot of opportunities still exist.
Prof. Nebo counseled the Chinese to also build synergy with
Distribution and Generation Companies as they could build mutual
relationship in the area of embedded or generated power within a
locality and get such distributed through the Disco in the area.
He commended Mr. President for the doggedness and determination to
push Electricity Agenda to this level through its privatization
programme, and enthused that without that political will, the whole
process could have derailed.
The Minister said that even the opposition have expressed this
position at different fora, as the Nigerian power privatization
remained irreversible, the gap is huge and Government is deeply
committed in making sure we get it right in power, “the Independent
Power Producers should be able to produce, while on our side, we
should ensure that power gets to the people”.
The statistics of power in Nigeria is abysmally low, “Nigeria is
producing only 2.5% of what power is being produced in South Africa,
those who are wise are taking position and falling over each other to
partake in the sector”, he commended the level of confidence the
Chinese have in the sector, saying that encouraging funding has come
from EXIM Bank into the sector, especially since the high-powered
delegation, led by Mr. President, visited China in 2013.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mariam Olusola Akomode, the
Chairperson of Cartlark International, assured the Minister that her
Company will tag along with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda,
that is underscore by the level playing ground provided for Public
Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.  For a country like Nigeria that
is in a hurry to develop its critical infrastructure, the PPP model is
a viable option, adding that her Company will explore PPP to finance
its Transmission projects as planned.
The Representatives of SinoHydro Nigeria, Gan Yongzhi said his Company
is ready to promote the project in line with the agreement signed,
assuring that the project will be realized on record time.

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