Vice President Mohammed Namadi has commended and congratulated the management of the concessioned Shiroro hydro power plant of the North and South Company for the excellent management and direction of the Shiroro Power Plant.
Sambo gave this commendation when he received a delegation of the management of the company led by its chairman Ibrahim Aliyu in his office. The Vice president noted that the concessioning of the Shiroro Hydro-Power plant to the company was not a mistake in view of the new ideas the company was injecting to enable the power plant generate to its optimal capacity.
The vice president appreciated the management of the company for the steps taken to appoint consultants that would advise them on the technical aspect of the proper running of the plant.
He also noted that their determination to venture into the provision of solar power was welcomed as government was encouraging investors in power through various channels including linking them up with international financing agencies such as the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), African Development Bank (ADB) and the China EXIM Bank where they were expected to source for cheap financing at single digit interest rates.
Sambo noted the request of the company to participate in the HYPERDEC meetings and requested them to submit such idea to the office of the minister for his further consideration of the request as he felt that their participation would serve as a form of synergy that would create harmony between the owners and beneficiaries of the power plants.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the North South Power Company Ibrahim Aliyu said they were at the State House to brief the Vice President, being the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NPC), on their activities, since they took over Shiroro Hydro-Power Plant, In Niger State.
He disclosed that despite challenges the Company had made considerable investment to ensure that the power plant operates optimally. He said currently two of the four turbines are fully overhauled, while the third will soon be functional, stressing that when all the turbines are fully functional the power plant would work seamlessly for the next ten years.
Aliyu said that the need to improve on the capacity and functionality of the turbines would be the next stage of their investment stock, adding that the first stage of these investments will be in the general improvement of the facility, which would involve the installation of instrument transformers, civil engineering works, intake structure repair as well as pen stock repairs.
Other aspects of the investment he mention would also include the repair of spill way, provision of auxiliary spill way, protection controlled system/scatter, portable water system and other general improvements.
The chairman further said that the Company since taking over the plant was working assiduously to improve the flow of water to the dam, while also making efforts to install 100 to 200mw solar plant farm to upgrade the plant’s capacity from 600mw to 1000mw within the next five years.
Present at the meeting were Olubunmi Peters Executive Vice Chairman of the North South Power Company, Sani Ndanusa, Mrs Irene Chigbue and Emmanuel Katepa both directors of the company as well as Mr. Michael Tarney representative of SEC Africa.
Others were the Minister of Power Professor Chinedo Nebo, Minister of State for Power Mohammed Wakil and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Godknows Igali
