The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved engineering and electro-mechanical works for the Mambila hydro electric power plant to the tune of $5.792 billion.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, said the project began in 1972, but made no significant progress since then.
He said the contract, awarded to a joint venture with a Chinese civil engineering company, would be completed in about six years.
“The project requires the construction of four dams, one of them is about 150 meters in height, the immediate two are 70 meters in height and the smallest of them is 50 meters in height.
“It also include 700 kilometers of transmission line. It will be in Taraba state in the area called Gembu, and it will unlease the potential that have been reported about Mambila, including agriculture, tourism and energy.
“The money is coming from the Chinese government through their Exim bank, so is an export funding support for them and an import funding for us. 85 percent is supposed to be financed by them and 15 per cent is our own counterpart funding. The award now triggers contract negotiations for the financing side and after that is concluded the projects can now start,” he said.
He said the project would help the country to strike a big blow on the climate change issue and fulfill its commitment under the Paris agreement.
“It is designed to deliver 3,050 megawatt of power. The productive output will be a function of water supply, because that is the major source of fuel, is a hydroplane,” he said.
