Kano State power plant investment in Akwa Ibom soon to become a reality

The Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, has reiterated the Federal Government’s support for Kano State Government’s proposal to invest in the 540 megawatt Qua Iboe Power Plant (QIPP) located in Akwa Ibom State.

According to a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Paul Abechi, Ahmed gave the Federal Government’s assurance when she received Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State in Abuja.

Ahmed said that the project would improve the industrialisation plan, growth and employment generation for the state.

“Let me assure you that it is not an issue of if this project will take place but when, because we have a very huge power gap and it is more in the northern part than in the south.

“It is for this reason that when we see an opportunity like this, we have the responsibility to ensure it comes into fruition.

“We are looking at this as a pilot project as this will help mitigate Federal Government’s plan. The ability to provide a counter guarantee will help a long way to reduce the burden on the Federal Government,” she said.

Earlier, Ganduje said that his government would provide protection against the financial risk of the power project by setting up the Kano State Bulk Electricity Trading Company (KBET).

“The Kano State Government is committed to industrialising Kano as a critical component of its development plans. The shortage of electricity has been the principal factor hindering progress in this area.

“To this end, we welcome the opportunity offered to us by QIPP to guarantee stable supply of 540MW of electricity.

“We trust this will support the industrialisation of Kano and perhaps even neighbouring states like Kaduna, Jigawa and Katsina which have significant and critical unmet requirements for electricity.

“We request you to kindly approve the request made by QIPP as the FG will not be assuming any risks before financial close.

“On our part we are ready to start the process of setting up KBET through an Act of the State House of Assembly and once this is done, we will be in a position to provide the guarantee backing its obligations.

“We will also set up a steering committee and start engaging investors now that we can give them assurances of available electricity once QIPP comes on stream in three years.

“We consider this a win-win situation all round,” he said.

The governor said the visit was a follow up to a letter he recently sent to the Minister of Finance highlighting the understanding reached with other partners in the project.

According him, QIPP had secured firm commitment of equity funding of 350 million dollars from Globeleq and project Finance of 850 million dollars from IFC, OPiC and AfDB.

The letter reads in part, “This funding is conditional upon the guarantee of your Ministry for a power purchase agreement (PPA) to be executed between QIPP and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).

“Exxon-Mobil is also prepared to commit about 500 million dollars to build a gas pipeline from its deep off-shore platforms to supply the gas needed for QIPP to operate.

“The total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for this project amount to 1.7 billion dollars.

“QIPP has also assumed completion risk of a transmission line from Ikot-Abasi to Ikot-Ekpene in order to ensure supply of power to the national grid.