150MW to Be Added to National Grid Before Year-End – Adelabu

Nigeria is set to add an additional 150 megawatts (MW) to its national grid before the end of the year, according to Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power.

Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the presidential villa in Abuja, Adelabu explained that this milestone would be achieved following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

The initiative, carried out in partnership with Siemens, aims to enhance Nigeria’s electricity supply through key strategic projects.

“We believe that before the end of the year, an additional 150 megawatts will be added upon completion of the entire pilot phase,” Adelabu said.

Highlighting international collaboration as critical to Nigeria’s energy development, the minister emphasized the country’s partnership with Germany.

“We have a bilateral relationship with the Republic of Germany that focuses on energy and electricity support,” he said. “The name of the game now is about cooperation, collaboration, and partnership.”

Adelabu referred to the Siemens project as the flagship initiative of the partnership, aimed at developing both brownfield and greenfield transmission substations under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI). He highlighted that significant progress has been made since the agreement was signed in December 2023 at COP 28 in Dubai.

“We have completed the pilot phase of this project up to 80%,” he said.

The pilot phase involves the importation and installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, with eight of them already commissioned. “The positive impact of this is that it has added nothing less than 750 megawatts to our transmission grid capacity,” he said.

Adelabu detailed plans for the next phase, which include revamping 14 existing substations and constructing 23 new ones nationwide. “The entire grid is quite fragile and dilapidated. We need to revamp it to ensure stability going forward,” he added.

The minister emphasized Nigeria’s dedication to renewable energy as a core component of its long-term strategy, alongside addressing immediate power needs. “We have an energy transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060,”he said.

Adelabu emphasized Germany’s proficiency in renewable technologies and its alignment with Nigeria’s abundant natural resources.  “Germany has technology; we have the sun and wind,” he said, noting that over 30 states in Nigeria enjoy a minimum of 10 hours of sunshine daily.

The minister also outlined plans for off-grid solutions, suggesting a distributed power model in which each state would operate its own generating plants.

“This model will shield states from problems on the national grid and ensure rural electrification,” he said. “Germany’s involvement extends beyond traditional energy sources; it includes significant investments in green energy projects.”

Adelabu concluded with optimism about Nigeria’s energy future, stressing that collaborations with Germany and other stakeholders will be instrumental in establishing a resilient energy infrastructure to drive economic growth.