Shiroro power to increase generation by 300mw through solar plant
The Shiroro Hydro Power Station (SHPS) will
soon double its operating capacity of 300mw
through solar plant.
Alhaji Dauda Abdulaziz, SHPS Chief Operating
Officer, disclosed this on Thursday in Shiroro to
a team from Infrastructure Concessions
Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigeria Electricity
Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Bureau for
Public Enterprises (BPE).
Abdulaziz said that the new solar plant would be
digitally controlled instead of the conventional
manual system.
“This new solar form of energy generation we
are introducing will generate additional 300mw.
With this progress, Nigerians will henceforth
enjoy more power supply.
“It is a project that has prospect of employment
for skilled young Nigerians," he added.
Abdulaziz said that consultation on the
procurement process for the solar energy
project was ongoing with relevant agencies and
the host community to reach agreement for
commencement of work.
He told the team that each hydro power station
in Nigeria was mandated to generate 3000mw
per annum, adding that Shiroro had been
generating 2,360mw.
Abdulaziz said that the shortfall was due to the
repairs and the upgrade of facilities after the
handing over of the company in Nov. 1, 2013.
“The annual energy generation currently is
2,260mw. Installed capacity is 600mw, 4 units
each that generate 150mw.
“There are four units meant to generate power,
but right now we only use two to generate
300mw because the other two units are under
maintenance and are not generating energy for
now," he said.
Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Diko, the ICRC Director
General, had expressed optimism with the
upgrade and repairs of infrastructure to enable
the station to generate 3000mw.
“I am happy with what we are seeing. The new
system of bringing in ICT and capital to invest
for Nigerians to enjoy maximum power supply is
a way forward.
“What is now mitigating the generation of
sufficient energy generation is the certain
repairs and operation that needs to be carried
which includes bringing in extensive experts
from the USA.
“The plan to have additional 300MW of power
generation using solar can only be achieved
through government partnership with the
private sector.
“This 30 years concession is for the power
station to invest money, give the desired power
generation and recover their investment within
the period of 25 to 30 years.
“It is after these years of investment that they
will refer back to government to ascertain if
there has been an improvement with sufficient
manpower to run the company or not.
“The essence of Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
is that come let us partner, we will agree and
disagree, but we have a strategic objective.
”If the concessionaire is no longer up to the
agreement, there are clauses in the agreement
that require us to take certain action of
termination of agreement", he said.
Diko called for immediate completion of the
maintenance works since the two units currently
working was not enough to generate the needed
energy consumption.
“Having only two functional units in the whole
system is a setback; It is not enough.
“There has to be an improvement. Shutting
down unit every evening to allow divers to work
under water is not good for the present
situation the country is in.
“This overhauling has to be fixed so that it will
be easy to increase capacity generation," he
soon double its operating capacity of 300mw
through solar plant.
Alhaji Dauda Abdulaziz, SHPS Chief Operating
Officer, disclosed this on Thursday in Shiroro to
a team from Infrastructure Concessions
Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigeria Electricity
Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Bureau for
Public Enterprises (BPE).
Abdulaziz said that the new solar plant would be
digitally controlled instead of the conventional
manual system.
“This new solar form of energy generation we
are introducing will generate additional 300mw.
With this progress, Nigerians will henceforth
enjoy more power supply.
“It is a project that has prospect of employment
for skilled young Nigerians," he added.
Abdulaziz said that consultation on the
procurement process for the solar energy
project was ongoing with relevant agencies and
the host community to reach agreement for
commencement of work.
He told the team that each hydro power station
in Nigeria was mandated to generate 3000mw
per annum, adding that Shiroro had been
generating 2,360mw.
Abdulaziz said that the shortfall was due to the
repairs and the upgrade of facilities after the
handing over of the company in Nov. 1, 2013.
“The annual energy generation currently is
2,260mw. Installed capacity is 600mw, 4 units
each that generate 150mw.
“There are four units meant to generate power,
but right now we only use two to generate
300mw because the other two units are under
maintenance and are not generating energy for
now," he said.
Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Diko, the ICRC Director
General, had expressed optimism with the
upgrade and repairs of infrastructure to enable
the station to generate 3000mw.
“I am happy with what we are seeing. The new
system of bringing in ICT and capital to invest
for Nigerians to enjoy maximum power supply is
a way forward.
“What is now mitigating the generation of
sufficient energy generation is the certain
repairs and operation that needs to be carried
which includes bringing in extensive experts
from the USA.
“The plan to have additional 300MW of power
generation using solar can only be achieved
through government partnership with the
private sector.
“This 30 years concession is for the power
station to invest money, give the desired power
generation and recover their investment within
the period of 25 to 30 years.
“It is after these years of investment that they
will refer back to government to ascertain if
there has been an improvement with sufficient
manpower to run the company or not.
“The essence of Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
is that come let us partner, we will agree and
disagree, but we have a strategic objective.
”If the concessionaire is no longer up to the
agreement, there are clauses in the agreement
that require us to take certain action of
termination of agreement", he said.
Diko called for immediate completion of the
maintenance works since the two units currently
working was not enough to generate the needed
energy consumption.
“Having only two functional units in the whole
system is a setback; It is not enough.
“There has to be an improvement. Shutting
down unit every evening to allow divers to work
under water is not good for the present
situation the country is in.
“This overhauling has to be fixed so that it will
be easy to increase capacity generation," he
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