From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Plateau State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) for the construction of over 300 mega wats power plant as part of efforts to open up the state for industrialisation.
The Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Arch Samuel Jatau, on behalf of the Plateau state government signed the MoU at the New Government House stressed that the agreement marks the beginning of industrialization of the state by the Mutfwang’s administration.
“Today, the signing of this MoU shows the seriousness in which the Plateau State government intends to drive the state into the area of industrialisation. As you are aware, there is no industry without power, so we need to start from the bottom up and that’s why we are signing” this MoU.
He disclosed that a team of experts will be set up by the state government to interface with the contractor’s team to see further details and specifications.
“We are happy to have this MoU signed, power is the key ingredients of development in any society. And if we want Plateau State to be an industrialised state, then we need power, we will work expeditiously for the actualization of this dream, the coming on board of an indigenous power plant will also create jobs opportunities, economic activities across the state,” the SGS assured citizens of Plateau State
He charged the company to deliver on it’s promise, while adding that the Plateau State government is ready to play it’s own part in achieving the dream of providing power that is owned by Plateau people for the development of the state an her citizens.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shimankar Valley Limited. AVM Cholom Pam (retd) said the project is a clean energy with zero negative effects on the host communities.
He said the idea of developing a hydro power plant started way back in 2013, when the company conducted a survey of the sate and realized that the state has huge potential for hydro power development.
“Plateau State has potentials of well over 300MW mega wats of power which could be tap and harness for the development of the State. Having seen the potentials the State has, the company went into collaboration with a well known global partners which specialized in hydro power. We have potentials according to our survey within Pankshin, Kanke, Bokkos and Bassa.
“We decided to start with the one we call it Shimankar Independent Power Project located at the Randa River just by Jing town. It is the smallest among the projects we earmarked for development barely 21 mega wats, it sound small but is a huge power.”
The MD further noted, “We decided to start with that one because is the simplest of all the various projects we have earmarked for development in the State. This project in itself is so peculiar in such a way that there will be no displacement of people within that project site, there will be no flooding of farmlands because the technology utilize here is such that all the water flowing will be stored within the rever basin.
“Another peculiarity of this project is that it will involve a 2.4 kilometer pressure tonel. I’m not sure if we have even a 1 kilometer pressure tonel in the country. But this will involve a 2.4 kilometer pressure tonel the first of it’s kind in Nigeria.”
Pam maintained that the state will remain the beneficiary of the power plant, “this is because whatever we produced, our intention is that the power will remain within the State, we are not going to load it to the National Grid where it will be willed to another states, is going to be in this state for development. The more we commenced work on the Jing site, we will be working simultaneously on other sites.
“The project duration is supposed to be 24 months, it involves building dams, reservoir 2.4 kilometer underground tunnel, power house and so many structures. We planned to fire the first turbine within 18 months, now between 18 months and 24 months is the period we continue to test our equipments, check the parameters and adjust to ensure we meet up with all the standards required of us by NEMSA.” he stated.
ENDS…….
The SGS handing over the signed copy of the MoU to the MD of Shimankar Valley Limited AVM Pam