40MW Kashimbilla hydro project to be completed soon – Fashola

The Federal Government has assured of its readiness to make adequate budgetary provisions towards ensuring the speedy completion of the 40 megawatts Kashimbilla Hydro power project in Taraba State, Vanguard reports.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said during a working visit to the project site located in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, that the power project will not be abandoned. Fashola noted that the visit afforded him the opportunity to take stock of what has been done and what has been left undone.

He said the plant will not again suffer neglect as all would be done to ensure timely release of funds within the next two budget cycles, setting the target of 2018 for the completion of the project. He promised to ensure full realization of the project within the new time-frame.

Nigeria can generate 17,500MW in 5 years from coal – Ex Perm Sec

Retired Federal Permanent Secretary and Managing Director/Chief Executive, Favour Oil & Gas Limited, Chief Robert Usman Audu in an interview with Vanguard has argued that Nigeria’s dream of industrialisation lies in a return to coal-fired electricity plants from where Nigerian can generate 17,500 MW in three to five years, with minimum investment.

He said if Nigeria is to industrialise, it must do what other industrialised nations of the world have done to ensure adequate electricity supply. He noted that coal is the main source of power generation in countries like U S A, Germany, China, Japan, India and South Africa. He said Nigeria has coal deposits in 18 states of the federation and that coal deposits in Nigeria can last for 200 years.

He said; “Electricity from coal is very cheap compared to hydro, gas or solar. Therefore, if we build coal-fired power plants, electricity would become cheaper for all categories of consumers. The problem of epileptic power supply would be permanently addressed because issues of low water levels or vandalism of gas pipelines won’t be there.”

He urged the Federal Government to start with four coal powered projects beginning with Kogi with 5000 MW, Benue 5000 MW, Enugu 5000 MW and Gombe 2500 MW. The plants should take between three to five years to complete and should be able to contribute 17,500MW from the pilot scheme.

Mini-grids best for electrifying rural commodities in Nigeria, others

Experts have said that rural electrification can improve the quality of life by increasing economic activity necessary for rural economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, Vanguard reports.

According to a report by Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) “A mini-grid is an enabler of rural industrial development, through enabling productive use of electricity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).” The report also said that in the past, most national Governments in sub-Saharan Africa have prioritised the grid extension approach for rural electrification. However, progress often stayed very slow due to the remoteness of many areas and the costly investment required for grid extension and large-scale central power plant development.

According to the report, “in some cases, the rate of electrification was even lower than population growth. Mini-grids are therefore seeing a surge in interest as governments and private developers take stock of the socio-economic implications of large unelectrified rural populations, national grid extension costs and the potential for innovative public-private partnerships to deliver commercially sustainable, effective, reliable, ‘green’ power to improve rural livelihoods.

Nigus consortium to build N183bn solar power plants in the North

A consortium of renewable energy companies led by Nigus has concluded plans with the Federal Government to build five solar power plants worth N183bn ($600m) in some North-Eastern states, The Punch reports.

According to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and the consortium, each of the solar power plants will have capacity to generate 100 megawatts of electricity. The Head, Overseas Operations, NIPC, Mr. Abubakar Yerima, stated that the decision to build the power plants in the North was reached after several meetings with the investors, which also included German firm; LTI Re Energy.

On the cost of the projects, Yerima stated, “It is about $600m investment and it is completely a private sector driven initiative. All the investments are coming from the private sector. Where the Federal Government comes in has to do with the licences and permits as well as all other forms of facilitation needed for a smooth process.”

World's first zero-emission hydrogen train to begin operations in Germany

The world's first hydrogen powered, emission-free train is set to go into service in Germany in 2017 -- a ground-breaking innovation that could signal the phasing out of heavily polluting, diesel-powered trains. The first "hydrail", or hydrogen-powered train, will begin transporting passengers on the Buxtehude-Bremervörde-Bremerhaven-Cuxhaven line in Lower Saxony, in northern Germany, in December 2017, German newspaper Die Welt reported. Although the first train in operation will only run a short, 60-mile (96-kilometer) route, four German states have signed an agreement with Alstom, the French company that builds the trains, for the purchase of up to 60 additional locomotives, if they are judged a success.

"Alstom is proud to launch a breakthrough innovation in the field of clean transportation," Alstom chairman and CEO, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, said in a statement.

"It shows our ability to work in close collaboration with our customers and develop a train in only two years."

Quiet revolution

The new, silent train, called the Coradia iLint, was unveiled by Alstom at a railway industry trade fair in Berlin earlier this year, and only emits steam and condensed water.

Although not suitable for electric railway lines, it's designed to provide a clean alternative to the large number of heavily polluting diesel trains that run on non-electric lines throughout Europe.

Germany alone has more than 4,000 diesel-powered train cars, according to Alstom, and about 20% of all of Europe's current rail traffic is hauled by diesel locomotives according to the European Union.

The train uses the same equipment as a diesel train but runs on an entirely new technology that uses hydrogen -- a waste product of the chemical industry -- as the fuel source.

Energy to power the train is generated by large fuel cells that sits on top of the train. This cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity, which is then stored in batteries.

Each two-car train-set requires a fuel cell and a 207 pound (94kg) tank of hydrogen to supply it, while the oxygen is obtained from the local air. The train can complete a 500 mile (800 kilometer) journey on a full tank of hydrogen, which is enough for one day according to Alstom, and carries up to 300 passengers.

Although the 87 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour) speed the train reaches is far below that of other European trains, such as the German Inter-city Express and French TGV, it is well suited to the quieter and shorter stretches of the European rail network that haven't yet been converted to electricity.

Initial tests on the two pre-production trains that were unveiled at the trade show will be completed by the end of the year, according to Alstom.

The two units will then undergo further testing throughout 2017, prior to their expected approval for operation by Germany's Federal Railway Office at the end of that year.

Niger state, Vyonare Development Ltd sign MoU for 50Mw solar plant

The Niger state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vyonare Development Limited for the construction of a $100 million, 50 megawatts solar plant in the state, The Nation reports.

According to the state Commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, the solar plant will be constructed at Ragba, along Mokwa – Jebba road in Mokwa local government area of the state.

Vatsa said that the solar plant will go a long way in addressing the recent lapses of the three hydro electricity power stations in the state and complement the federal government’s efforts at stabilizing the epileptic power supply challenges.

Vyonare Development Limited’s Engineer Segun Ajayi stated that the project would be fully funded by the company while the Niger state government would provide the enabling environment for the smooth take off of the project and facilitate all necessary processes needed for its actualization.

South Korean firm to build 550Mw gas power plant in Cross River

A South Korean firm, Kingline Integrated Power Development Limited, has expressed its readiness to build a 550 Megawatts gas fired power plant in Cross River State, Vanguard reports.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Sean Kim, dropped the hint when he led a delegation from the firm on a courtesy visit to the governor, Senator Ben Ayade, in Government House, Calabar, yesterday.

He said: “We have already done some preliminary checks in Cross River State and the proposed sites meet all of the requirements, which is why we are here today.”

“The next phase will be the application for a generation licence, initiating processes for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and preparations for the project, among other necessary bureaucratic processes,” he added.