From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Plateau State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an indigenous energy firm for the establishment of a 21 megawatts hydropower station in the state.
Secretary to Government of the State Sam Jato said this was a way of stimulating economic development of the state.
Speaking after signing a memorandum of understanding with Shimankary Valley Ltd (SVL) at Government House, Jos, the SGF said that the state government has identifed power as the key ingredient for the industrialisation of the state, and expressed the government’s passion for the project.
He said, “The signing of this MoU today is the beginning a process of setting the state on the part of economic prosperity. Because the availability of power has multidimensional economic advantage to the state, and that is why we will pursue the reality of the power project with vigour and all the seriousness required”
In his remarks, the managing director of Shimankary Valley Ltd (SVL), AVM Pam Chollom (retd) said it was a “honour and privilege to see himself coming back home after retirement to contribute my quota to the development of our state,
“The idea of developing hydro potential in Plateau State started way back in 2013 when the company conducted a survey to realise that the state has a huge potentials for hydro-power. The state has over 300 megawatts power potential that could be tapped and harnessed for the development of the state.
“So the company went into collaboration with a globally-recognised power company, the same company that built the Zungeru power plant of 700 mega watts
“We decided to start with the Shimankary power project which is the smallest of all, and subsequently build the rest across the state.
“There will by no displacement of any residence and compensation as a result of the construction. It is an independent power project that will be exclusive to Plateau state and does not require linking with national grid.
“The availability of this guaranteed power is what attract investors to the state. That means job creation, lots of revenue, lot of economic activities. The project will surely give the state huge economic advantage in the country.
“The project duration is 24 months, and the project will be financed by private partners because it is obvious the state government has no fund to finance it,” he said