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  • News - North East - Gombe
  • Updated: May 19, 2023

Gombe: Water Resources Minister Commissions Dadin Kowa Hydropower Project

Gombe: Water Resources Minister Commissions Dadin Kowa Hydro

Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Sulaiman Adamu has commissioned the 40MW Dadin Kowa Hydropower Project in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Adamu said the project is one of the major parts of the Dadin Kowa Dam which was built in 1988.

In a ceremony on Friday at the facility, the Minister said the statutory inspection, testing and certifications of the project by the relevant agencies of government have been completed making it ready for the commissioning.

He appreciated all stakeholders who participated in the making of the project a success, especially Mabon Limited, the concessioneer company that undertook the project. 

"The power is an integral component of Dadin Kowa Multipurpose Dam which was built in 1988 with the reservoir capacity of 2.8 billion cubic litres to provide with the goal of providing 6000 hectares of irrigation, 40MW of electricity and 30,000 cubic meters daily water supply to Gombe and environs," he said.

Adamu pointed out the legacy project of the governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya-led administration located few kilometers from the station as one of the potential beneficiaries of the power project. 

The Minister listed areas in which Gombe State in particular will benefit from the project to include industrialisation, promotion of medium and small scale industries, employment generation among others.

As contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, spokesperson to the governor, the Minister said: "I am happy to have seen the fantastically large Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park very well located and sited to receive a lot of benefits from water supply from the dam and the hydropower it is generating."

Also speaking, Governor Yahaya expressed his excitement on the commissioning of the project, adding that it would pave way for economic development in the state.

Ealier in his welcome address, the Managing Director, Upper Benue River Basin Authority, Engr Abubakar Halilu Muazu said the construction of the Dadin Kowa Multipurpose Dam commenced in 1982 and was completed in 1986, but the power generating component was only developed in the recent years.

He explained that the concession agreement that saw to the construction of the power plant was earlier signed in 2005, but due to some legal, technical and financial challenges it was only able to be completed in December, 2020.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Mabon Limited, Engr Richard appreciated all stakeholders especially the Federal and state governments as well as the host community for their efforts and contributions towards making the project a reality.

According to Richard, the power station has so far contributed 401 Gigawatt of power to the national grid, assuring of effective and efficient handling of the facility.

Also speaking, the Emir of Gombe and Chairman Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, represented by the Mai of Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Muhammad, described the project as historic, calling on the authorities concerned to ensure that the host community and especially the people of Gombe State at large benefit much from the project.

"Power is one of our problems and with this project, I am hopeful the problem of power will be addressed. 

"And I also hope the power generated here will help in boosting our industrial sector especially looking at the proximity of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park to the power plant", he said. 

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