President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, commissioned the completed Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam along with 40MW Hydropower Station, Associated 132KV Switchyard, Transmission Line, and Distribution Substation Phase I Project, in Taraba State.
A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, sais Buhari at a virtual ceremony held at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja, underscored the importance of the project, which he highlighted the role his administration played and the commitment to achieving the target of 30GW of electricity in the country by 2030, under the Electricity Vision 30:30:30.
He said: “The Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam in Taraba State, with storage capacity of 500 million cubic metres, was conceived principally to checkmate the threat of the imminent collapse of the structurally weak and poisonous Lake Nyos, located on the line of volcanic activities in Cameroun Republic, which collapse could result in flooding and thereby affect millions of lives and properties.
“Even though the dam was meant to serve as a buffer to contain possible discharge of water from Lake Nyos, the engineering design maximized the benefits of the Kashimbila ecosystem by incorporating a 40MW Hydropower Station, 60,000 cubic metre per day Water Supply Scheme, 2,000 hectares of Irrigation System, an airstrip, fishing activities and tourism potentials.’’
Buhari pointed out that the Electricity Vision Initiative aims to have renewable energy’s contribution of at least 30 per cent to the country’s energy mix, thereby expediting the expansion of electricity access.
According to the President, the Phase I of the Power Evacuation Component of the Project includes the 132KV Switchyard, four substations at Takum, Wukari, Rafin Kada, Donga, and the rehabilitation of the existing 132KV Yandev substation.
It also involves the installation of a 245km, 132KV Double Circuits line from Kashimbila to Takum, Wukari, Yandev, as well as a 45km, 33kv Double Circuits line from Wukari to Donga through Rafin Kada, he added.
‘‘I understand that the Water Supply component that is intended to service Takum and environs has reached about 65 per cent progress, while the engineering design for the 2000 Hectare Irrigation Scheme has been fully completed, and physical works will commence in due course”, he said.
According to him, other power projects aimed at boosting electricity supply including the 40MW Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant in Gombe State and the 700MW Zungeru Hydropower Plant in Niger State, are also ready for commissioning.
