Buhari approves committees to deliver N2trillon Mambilla power project

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved the constitution of an Inter-ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC), and Project Delivery Committee (PDC), for the N2 trillon Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State.

The details, disclosed by the office of the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, comes a few days after the Federal Government said it had released funds for compensation for land and other property that may be affected by the construction of the 3,050 megawatts power plant. Mamman,would  chair the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee, while the Director in-charge of Renewable Energy in the Federal Ministry of

Power would head the Project Delivery Committee, reporting to the Power Minister through the Permanent Secretary. Spokesman to the Minister, Aaron Artimas, said in Abuja, that members of the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee are representatives of Federal Government agencies and Taraba State Government, which include Ministries of Water Resources; Environment; Finance, Budget and National Planning; Works and Housing; Justice; Information and Culture; and Mines and Steel Development.

Regarded as one of Africa’s biggest dam projects, which is expected to be connected to three dams across the Donga River in Taraba State, the project, which was conceived in 1982, has remained fallow despite the poor state of electricity supply in Nigeria.

The main Mambilla Dam is reportedly a large roller-compacted concrete dam and reservoir at 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level.Others are representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Artimas listed the terms of reference of the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee include, facilitating and fast-tracking the execution and project delivery of the Mambilla Hydroelectric power project; and finalising within six months the review of the project engineering and technical design concept to achieve optimal  efficiency and benefit the immediate target market (the Northeast geopolitical zone). Others are obtaining approval of the Loan Facility from the China Exim Bank for the Off-shore component of the project based on the reviewed contract price.
“The Inter-ministerial Steering Committee will be supported by Project Delivery Committee, which will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the project in line with agreed timelines and deliverables, including design of a framework for post-project operational management that will ensure that the project starts performing from the point of delivery.

Also, an independent consultant will serve as a project coordinator to coordinate the administrative and stakeholder aspects of project implementation. The Federal Ministry of Power is expected to announce the dates for the inauguration of the committees soon,” Artimas added.