Forty Chinese engineers have finally visited the site of the 3,050 MW Mambilla hydro-power project at Gembu in Taraba State. The high profile visit which took place weekend is preparatory to the take off of the project, Daily Trust reports.
The visit was undertaken in company of officials from the Federal Ministry Power, Works and Housing and heavy security. It was gathered that this was the first time such a number of experts visited the site since the plan to construct the dam was conceived several decades ago.
The squabbles over the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract between two Chinese companies Gezhouba Construction Group Corporation (CGGC) and the Sinohydro Corporation that caused setbacks previously, is said by officials to have been resolved. It was also learnt that the scope of work at the site has finally been presented by the Chinese contractors to the federal government.
The Director, Energy Resources Development in the ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi said project cost had been reviewed with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) valuing it at $5.732billion (about N1.140trn). The federal government will contribute its 15% equity financing after raking in about N1trillion from the sales of the 10 gas-based power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) while the 85% funding from China is already domiciled with the China Export Import (EXIM) Bank.
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