Nigeria, Germany inks agreement to accelerate siemens power project

Nigeria and Germany on Friday signed the Presidential Power Initiative agreement aimed at enhancing electricity supply in Africa’s most populous nation.

This information was revealed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, who indicated that the signing ceremony was overseen by President Bola Tinubu and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Representing Nigeria, Kenny Anuwe, the Managing Director of the Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company, signed the agreement, while Nadja Haakansson, the Managing Director (Africa) of Siemens AG, signed on behalf of Germany.

“Speaking after the signing ceremony in Dubai, Managing Director of the FGN Power Company, Mr. Kenny Anuwe highlighted Siemens Energy’s effective delivery of crucial equipment worth over 63 million Euros to the country since the project commenced,” the statement read.

“This includes 10 units of 132/33KV mobile substations; 3 units of 75/100MVA transformers, and 7 units of 60/66MVA transformers, currently being installed by FGN Power Company at various sites across Nigeria.”

“The project will also focus on identified load demand centres with a particular emphasis on economic and industrial hubs nationwide; execution of new 330kV and 132/33KV substations in target load centres with economic priority, in addition to thousands of kilometres of overhead transmission lines to connect new substations with existing ones.”

The presidential spokesperson mentioned that since assuming office, Tinubu has consistently advocated for the accelerated realization and expansion of the PPI. The project has been a significant focus in three rounds of bilateral discussions during various meetings between the President and the German Chancellor, held in New Delhi, Abuja, and Berlin.

According to Ngelale, the agreement aims to achieve the end-to-end modernization and expansion of Nigeria’s electric power transmission grid within a timeline of 18 to 24 months. This involves the complete supply, delivery, and installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment.

He stressed that the agreement is designed to ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the project, including full technology transfer and training for Nigerian engineers at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).