Zungeru hydro to operate for 100 years before first maintenance -Official

By Musa Adamu

The 700mw Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) would not be due for maintainance until over 100 years after the commencement of operations.
Explaining the uniqueness of the federal government-CNEEC partnership project, the Project Manager, Engr. Engr Olatunbosun Owoeye, said usually the average lifespan for such project was 50 years but that this one would surpassed that due some unique features embedded in its construction.
According to him, one of these features was the Roller Constructed Concrete (RCC) arrangement that would withstand any form of vibration for more years.
He futher clarified that the contract for the project include Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
Delayed for two years after the ground breaking ceremony conducted in 2013, the project would host four turbines with each generating 175mw of electricity.
Engr Owoeye said the first of these turbines would start operations by December of 2019 to add 175 mw to the national grid.
He said as at January this year, the project completion level was between 43% to 45%.
To speed up the work and keep to the timeline, he said workers were quatered and work in shifts round the clock.
According to Mustapha Yerima, Representive of the Local Content Partner, the project would be used for both power generation and agricultural activities.
Speaking on the host communities and what they stand to benefit, Engr Owoeye said government had earmarked about 35 resettlement sites for them.
He said these sites would be equipped with schools, health facilities, recreational facilities, market, cemetery, two worship places each and Houses of the village Heads.
He said in order to protect them from possible flooding accident, the sites had been moved 5km away from the project from the earlier protected 2km.
He further disclosed that while the federal government paid for the resettlement, the state government anchored the project.
He said N2 billion had been released for the resettlement but that the disbursement through the state government was yet to take off.
He said: “The government is providing the ementies and plot of land to the locals.”