Plateau govt, EU partner on hydropower project

The European Union (EU) is exploring the potential for small hydropower generation in partnership with the Plateau State government.

This was disclosed by the Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, during the delegation’s visit to Plateau State to assess Assop Falls, which is speculated to have the capacity to generate about 2MWp of electricity.

According to her, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the EU is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power to drive electricity diversification through renewable sources like small hydropower. The initiative aims to provide clean, safe, and affordable energy for the people of Plateau State while supporting agro-processing, productive energy use, and economic growth.

She further disclosed that the EU is working with the Plateau State government and other stakeholders to evaluate the technical, financial, and environmental feasibility of the small hydropower site.

“Plateau State, with its rich agricultural potential, could benefit greatly from reliable energy, boosting crop production and agro-processing,” she said.

In his address, the Managing Director of the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Ponzing Gamde, stated that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which is implementing the project on behalf of the European Union, is conducting a feasibility study to determine the hydropower site’s potential capacity.

“UNIDO is currently conducting a feasibility study here. They have completed preliminary data collection and will now develop a design to determine the actual generation capacity,” he said.

Further highlighting the project’s benefits, Gamde added, “With this power, cultural activities will also improve. It will ensure activities don’t stop at certain points.”

A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Owen Karyit Dagogot, expressed full support for the initiative, saying, “This place is going to be utilized to its full potential. It is an advantage because you already have a solid foundation.”

Director of Technical Services at the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Sam Gyang Yakubu, discussed the technical aspects of the project. He noted that while dam construction typically takes time, this project’s timeline could be as short as two to three years. “Evacuation is not going to be a challenge here, based on the way we have set up the whole layout,” he said.

A representative of the Federal Ministry of Power, Dina Temitope, highlighted the national significance of the project. “For us at the ministry, we’ve had this Vision 30:30—targeting 30 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, with 30 per cent coming from renewable sources,” he said.

Programme Manager for Energy and Circular Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Godfrey Ogbemudia, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustainability. “We want to ensure that EU taxpayers’ money is fully utilized. This is not just a donation. Power from this site can be transported to agricultural hubs where pre-processing is happening within the state,” he stated.

Emphasizing the need for continued collaboration, Head of GIZ’s Sustainable Energy Access component, Eckhard Heine, said, “We are in dialogue with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure effective state-level engagement.”

Technical Adviser at GIZ, Alexander Akolo, noted that Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang recently passed the State Electricity Law, which includes areas for improvement. “We can support reviewing it because of the need to develop other instruments like a mini-grid policy for the state,” he added.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

EU to boost Nigeria’s infrastructure with €150 global gateway initiative