As Nigeria began construction of the 1,350-megawatt gas-fired Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant in Abuja on Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the development.
The project is the first major project under President Bola Tinubu, who promised to improve erratic electricity supply will spur sluggish economic growth
At a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction, Tinubu described the project as “first bold step” in his administration’s efforts to establish a strong energy sector that will drive the Nigerian economy.
He pledged to increase Nigeria’s power generation beyond current levels, stabilize the erratic grid and end distribution bottlenecks that hamper supply to homes and businesses.
The Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant, which will burn Nigerian gas, will provide about 11% of Nigeria’s energy needs and will be built in three phases, state oil firm NNPC said.
Mele Kyari, NNPC chief executive said the power plant would help “monetise our abundant gas resources.” Nigeria has some of the largest gas reserves in the world.
China Mechanical Engineering Corp. and GE Vernova are building the power plant in partnership with the NNPC, with the first phase expected to be completed in 2024, the NNPC said.
The plant, along with two in the northern cities of Kaduna and Kaduna, is among the power projects planned along Nigeria’s 614-km (384-mile) AKK natural gas pipeline corridor, to add 3600 megawatts to Nigeria’s generation capacity, NNPC said.
