Nigeria has secured the support of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for the construction of the 3,050MW Mambila hydro power project, the largest in the country situated in Taraba state.
President Muhammadu Buhari said that Mambilla Hydropower Project remains a key priority for the government and that he hoped to fund the project with concessionary loans from China.
“I told President Xi that the Mambilla Hydropower Plant is Nigeria’s equivalent of China’s Three Gorges Dam, and that our hope is to fund the project with concessionary loans from China as any alternative funding arrangement will adversely impact the project’s viability. I am fully committed to the realization of this landmark project and i look forward to him joining me for the groundbreaking ceremony in the not-too-distant future,” said the President.
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The Mambilla hydropower Plant project
The US $6bn Mambilla hydropower Plant project which has been in the making for over 40 years upon completion will connect to three dams across Taraba’s Donga River. The first preliminary feasibility study for the Mambilla hydropower Plant was reportedly carried out by Moto Columbus in 1972 however, since then there have been attempts to actualize the project but in vain.
“We have been informed that our submission on this project is undergoing assessment by the relevant Chinese agencies. We hope that with your kind intervention, this assessment will be expedited. Your Excellency, Mambilla is Nigeria’s equivalent of the Three Gorges Dam,” said Buhari.
In his remarks, President Jinping, promised China’s support in capacity building and intelligence sharing. He added that this will be a huge opportunity for Nigeria to harness its hydro potentials for electricity and irrigation purposes.
Hope the contract will see the light of the day not to end in draft and designed paper.