Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on May 18 2023 inaugurated a 40 MW hydropower plant at Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam in Taraba State. Other projects that were inaugurated alongside the plant include an associated 132 kV switchyard, transmission line and a distribution substation.
Speaking in the Council Chamber of State House in Abuja during a virtual ceremony, the president emphasized the significance of the projects. He went on to emphasize the role they play in helping his administration reach the Electricity Vision 30:30:30 goal of 30GW of electricity in the nation by 2030.
President Buhari noted that the Electricity Vision initiative aims to have renewable energy contribute at least 30% of the energy mix, thereby accelerating the expansion of electricity access. He said this while inviting Mohammed Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to perform the project’s official unveiling on his behalf.
Reported earlier
September 2019
Construction of Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam in Nigeria 90% complete
Construction works at the Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam are 90% complete. This was revealed by Nigerian Minister of Energy, Sale Mamman after he paid a visit to the ongoing project in Takum, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam
The dam was initially designed with an installed capacity of 18MW, however, following the detailed hydrological modelling and yield analysis carried out by Aurecon, a 40MW installed capacity was recommended, which was accepted and implemented.
The multipurpose dam will have the capacity to generate electricity, a water treatment plant capable of supplying 60,000 cubic meters of water to about 400,000 people, an irrigation facility of about 2,000 hectares and an airstrip. According to Sale Mamman, the commissioning of the project was simply delayed by the construction of an electricity evacuation line.
“The multipurpose dam will cover the electricity needs of about 80% population in areas like Doga, Wukari, Takum, Kashimbila and many other communities in the Northeast and Yandev in Benue state who are not yet connected to the grid; and also support agricultural ventures in surrounding states in the Northeast,” he added. The facility will also irrigate 3,000 hectares of plantations, particularly in the dry season.
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The project, which was conceived around 2007, is a proactive step by Nigeria to prevent an ecological disaster that scientists predicted would happen in the future when the structurally weak volcanic Lake Nyos inevitably collapses, which is likely to affect six states in the country.
Once completed the project will create 39,887 jobs while over 100,000 persons will benefit socially and economically. The project will regulate the river’s flow, thus preventing flooding that threatens 6 million people, mainly in the states of Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Delta. The Kashimbilla Dam has also been designed to accommodate tourism.
After the Dam construction work is completed, the people of Kashimbila will show their happiness by singing and dancing to the site.