The Gombe State Executive Council on Wednesday approved N575 million as counterpart funding to construct mini-hydroelectric power station at Balanga dam.
Our correspondent reports that this station, will generate 320 kilowatts of electricity for irrigation and rural electrification, to be implemented in collaboration with the European Union.
Disclosing this while briefing journalists after SEC meeting presided by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Sanusi Ahmad, said the sum was part of the state’s 30 per cent.
Ahmad said, “Gombe SEC has approved the immediate release of the sum of 575 million naira being 30 per cent counterpart contribution for the implementation of Balanga Dam small hydropower project. This project is to be funded by European union and state government in the ratio of 30:70 per cent.
“We have almost six projects nationwide following the relentless effort and commitment of his Excellency of Gombe State. This project is to cost the sum of N1.9 billion. The European union will contribute N1.3 billion and state government will contribute 575 million to construct and generate 320 kilowatts from Balanga dam that will empower the irrigation activities and the neighbouring communities around Balanga, this project is indeed a very laudable activity that his Excellency needs to be commended for acting promptly to contribute in this project.”
Speaking further Ahmad disclosed that once mobilisation is paid contractors would move to site, “Immediately, we put our counterpart into the joint account, this project is to be supervised by Federal Ministry of Power and Federal Ministry of Water Resources, then State Ministry of Water Resources and State Ministry of Energy, this joint project will be under these two ministries, their own 70 per cent is already on ground. We are waiting for the Honourable Commissioner of Finance to release the payment, immediately we will mobilise to site. This project is mainly for small hydropower to be generated to empower the irrigation activities, even the transmission is exclusive. State government is to transmit the generated power to the nearby agro processing unit,” he added.
