First Generator Unit at Nigeria's Largest Hydropower Station Starts Operation

The first generator unit of the Zungeru hydropower station, the largest of its kind in Nigeria, went into operation on March 28.

Located over the Kaduna River in the Niger State, the Zungeru hydropower station will eventually be equipped with four 175-megawatt vertical shaft mixed-flow turbine generator units.

With a total installed capacity of 700 MW, the station will have an average annual power generation of 2.64 billion kilowatt-hours.

In addition to power generation, the station will play a role in flood-control, irrigation, water supply, cultivation and shipment.

A crucial result of the Belt and Road Initiative, the project so far has provided more than 4,000 jobs for local people during construction.

A view of the construction site of the Zungeru hydropower station in Nigeria [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The project was contracted by the consortium of POWERCHINA International Group Limited and China National Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. through the mode of Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC).

Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8 Co., Ltd. and Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., Ltd. are responsible for construction and Kunming Engineering Corporation Limited is shouldering all design work of the project.

The other three generator units of the Zungeru hydropower project are scheduled to be put into service within this year.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to meet power demands of two cities of similar scale to Nigeria's capital Abuja, relieving power shortages in the country and improving stability and continuous power supply to local grids. 

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)