150MW of electricity will be added to national grid before year end – Adelabu

Nigeria is set to boost its national grid by an additional 150 megawatts (MW) of electricity 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 said the milestone would be achieved following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the presidential power initiative (PPI).

The minister explained that the initiative, implemented in partnership with Siemens, aims to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply through 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 underscored 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 described the Siemens project as a flagship component of the partnership, focusing on implementing both brownfield and greenfield transmission substations under the PPI. He noted that since the agreement was signed in December 2023 at COP 28 in Dubai, Nigeria has made significant progress. “We have completed the pilot phase of this project up to 80%,” he said.

The pilot phase includes the importation and installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, with eight 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 outlined plans for the next phase, which will involve revamping 14 existing substations and establishing 23 new ones across the country. “The entire grid is quite fragile and dilapidated. We need to revamp it to ensure stability going forward,” he added.

In addition to addressing immediate power needs, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to renewable energy as part of its long-term strategy. “We have an energy transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060,” he said. Adelabu highlighted Germany’s expertise in renewable technologies, which aligns with Nigeria’s 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 discussed plans for off-grid solutions, proposing a distributed power model where each state would have 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 by expressing optimism about Nigeria’s energy future, emphasizing that partnerships with Germany and other stakeholders will help build a robust energy infrastructure to support economic growth.