March 29, 2024

FG sets to commission 700MW Zungeru hydropower plant, considers 30-yr concession tenure for bidders

Oredola Adeola

The Federal Government has restated its plan to commission the 700MW Zungeru Hydropower Plan, the country’s second biggest hydropower plant, in Zungeru, Niger State, as it considered a minimum of thirty years for the successful concessionaire with the right technical and financial capabilities to operate, maintain and manage the facility.

This was contained in a comment by Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant to President Buhari, on Digital & New Media, and obtained by EnergyDay on Thursday.

 

According to the statement, the Nigerian Government through the NCP and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in conjunction with the Ministry of Power has invited investors to express interest by submitting their Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the Concession of Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant (ZHPP).

 

The statement revealed that interested bidders must show demonstrate professional and efficient management competence, with prerequisite experience of undertaking similar projects including evidence of managing Hydropower Plant capacity of at least 500MW.

Firms interested in the Operations, Maintenance, and Management (OM&M) of the country’s newest hydropower plant are expected to present a minimum financial capacity of N50 Billion or its USD equivalent.

 

The Government noted that the strategic objective of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Zungeru, Niger State, is the need for increased electricity generation from diverse sources, particularly, from the hydroelectric potentials replete in Niger state.

The request for qualification (RFQ), as part of efforts to run the facilities efficiently and profitably, is open to firms or consortia with track records in working on a similar project and at least 15 years in the relevant industry.

 

The plant comprises a reservoir with a 230-meter elevation, a powerhouse containing four 175 MW turbines/generating units for a 700MW total rated output concrete-faced rockfill dam with a maximum height of approximately 113m, a concrete spillway equipped with four radial gates designed to pass Probable Maximum Flood (PMF).

The Zungeru Plant when completed will be the second largest hydroelectric power station in the country, behind the 760 MW (1,020,000hp) Kainji Hydroelectric Power Plant.