No new power projects in 2016 — FG

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has disclosed that the Federal Government will not take up new power projects this year but would instead focus on completing already awarded projects in the power sector to boost the country’s electricity capacity.
Fashola in a statement from his media aide, Mr. Hakeem Bello Thursday in Abuja explained that parts of the projects to be completed by government in 2016 would include 47 transmission projects across the country.
Also to be considered would be the revamping of Oji River coal power plant which is the only coal power station in the country and the 750 megawatts (MW) Zungeru hydro power plant in Zungeru, Niger State.
According to Fashola, the decision to halt new projects was in order to gain time and achieve better success in boosting electricity supply, hence, government’s decision not to embark on any new projects, adding that focus would be on the completion of already awarded projects.
The statement noted that Fashola said this when he appeared on a Channels Television programme.
The minister explained that irrespective of the delay in passage of the 2016 budget, there was a plan to complete 47 transmission projects this year.
“There is a plan to complete 47 transmission projects in this year’s budget and I believe we can do it even if the budget is passed tomorrow,” said Fashola.
He also disclosed that in addition to those projects, government was looking at other sources to achieve incremental power, adding that the road to incremental power lay in completing projects using a variety of sources including wind.