Water Resources: KWSG Commends NACHRED for Proposing Hydropower Generation

The Kwara State Government has commended the National Centre For Hydropower Research and Development (NACHRED) in Kwara State for considering ways to establish hydropower plant to assist small scale industries in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, gave the commendation recently while receiving the Team from NACHRED, in the Ministry.

Hon. Lade, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Christiana Asonibare, described the initiative as a laudable development, adding that it will serve as an alternative power supply at any of the chosen Waterworks dam in the state. 

The Commissioner expressed optimism that if the plant is established, it will create more employment opportunities, boost revenue generation and reduce huge financial burden the state  government normally commit to power supply for the Waterworks.

Earlier, the State Director of the NACHRED, Prof. Omodele Eletta, stated that the purpose of the visit was to intimate the state government of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation's intent to establish hydropower plant at one of the dams in the state.

"Our mandate is to research, develop and promote hydropower technologies to enhance energy availability and sustainability in Nigeria," she said.

Prof. Eletta revealed that research has been carried out in the three senatorial districts that comprises Kwara State, to capture a dam with the required potential for the establishment of the plant, emphasising that the hydropower plant will supply power regularly to Waterworks facility at the dam and by extension, the neighbouring communities and thereby uplift the area as an industrial hub.

The Director stressed that the United Nations Industrial Organisation was trying to seek for collaboration with the state that is ready to key into it, noting that the organisation will pay 70 percent, while the state is expected to pay 30 percent counterpart fund for the project.

She disclosed that only six of the projects will be sited in six geo-political zones of the country, adding that only Gombe State has been completed and put to use while Nassarawa and Ondo States have indicated interest.

Bashir Turawa,

Asst. Press Secretary,

Ministry of Water Resources.

07011515088