Govt, Chinese firms to build N4b transformer producing plant

NIGERIA is set to join the league of countries in the world with state-of-the-art transformer producing plants, as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in collaboration with the China Great Wall are planning a transformer producing plant in the country that could gulp N4 billion.

The Federal Government and Chinese Great Wall Corporation through the agency had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2013 to establish a local transformer manufacturing plant in Okene, Kogi State.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, Chinese Great Wall Corporation spokesperson, Ao Pei Yong, who led officials of the Chinese Great Wall Corporation, China Railway Corporation, Huaye Group and Bank of China on a facility tour of NASENI headquarters, said the Nigeria project, when completed, will be the second largest transformer producing plant in Africa.

According to the Chief Information Officer, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, the joint Nigeria-Chinese project on transformer manufacturing plant is valued at $170 million, equivalent to N4billion.

Ao Pei Yong said, the visit was to ensure that the harmonization of government regulations and policies on all related issues were carried out, adding that the overview of the MoU, made sure the transformer-manufacturing project covers electric power and distribution, power transformer as well as high voltage testing laboratory.

“We guarantee to establish everything on transformer and transformer-making machines in this collaboration and promised that we will work together to achieve everything as specified in the MoU.”

“Once this project is completed, Nigeria will have the capacity to achieve a Nigeria brand of transformer, not only for self-sufficiency, but the country can export it to other parts of Africa and the project should be completed not later than three years,” he added.