US, investors plan $20bn power plant in Katsina

Six other African countries – Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Liberia – are to benefit from the grant aimed at improving power supply on the continent.The officials are looking at the possibility of laying a pipeline from the Soraz Refinery in Niger Republic to the project site in Kastina. Special Assistant to the US president […]

Six other African countries – Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Liberia – are to benefit from the grant aimed at improving power supply on the continent.
The officials are looking at the possibility of laying a pipeline from the Soraz Refinery in Niger Republic to the project site in Kastina. Special Assistant to the US president on Power in Africa, Mr Robert Obrien, who led the delegation to the state, said under the agreement, the US government would provide $14 billion while the private investors would inject $6 billion.
An investor, Mr Peter Butt, said 300mgw of power from the plant would be stepped down in Katsina while the remaining would go to neighbouring states.
Governor Ibrahim Shema assured of his administration’s readiness to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure success of the project, saying the peaceful atmosphere in the state and its strategic location attracted the investors.
The state Commissioner for Works, Abdul-aziz Kaita, said the team had already visited many proposed sites for the project and several dams which could be used to cool the turbines, saying they were in talks with relevant government agencies on the actualisation of the project.
An environmental impact assessment is also expected to be carried out to ensure smooth take- off of the project, he said.