By Seun Ibiyemi
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has secured commitments from leading Chinese power engineering companies and financial institutions to accelerate the delivery of Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects and expand Chinese investment across Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
The engagements took place in Beijing during the ongoing Nigeria-China power sector mission and focused on converting partnerships into bankable projects, financed investments and completed infrastructure capable of delivering measurable improvements in electricity supply.
Tegbe said the objective was to ensure that international partnerships translate into additional megawatts, expanded transmission capacity, improved reliability and greater economic value for Nigerians.
At strategic meetings with Sinomach Group and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), major contractors involved in Nigeria’s generation and transmission programmes, Tegbe called for accelerated completion schedules for ongoing PPI projects.
He also proposed moving beyond conventional engineering, procurement and construction contracts to a broader partnership model in which Chinese companies would co-invest in Nigerian power projects.
Under the proposed arrangement, Chinese partners would provide capital, technology and technical expertise for generation, transmission, hydropower and related industrial investments.
The Minister said the expanded partnership with CMEC should deliver faster project completion, additional wheeling capacity and blended financing arrangements.
Tegbe also visited China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) to advance cooperation on Nigeria’s transmission network.
The Minister described transmission expansion as critical to addressing bottlenecks that contribute to load-shedding affecting households and businesses.
As part of the mission, the Nigerian delegation witnessed a factory acceptance test for high-voltage cables and related transmission materials at Hengfei Cable’s Changsha Industrial Park.
The test was conducted to verify that equipment destined for Nigerian transmission projects meets required technical standards before shipment, with the aim of reducing installation delays and ensuring smoother project execution after delivery to Nigeria.
Tegbe also called on Chinese companies to invest in industries that are major consumers of electricity and key drivers of economic growth.
The sectors identified include steel, automotive manufacturing, digital infrastructure and data centres, cold-chain logistics and sugar processing.
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He proposed a structured Nigeria-China industrial cooperation platform to identify, assess and develop bankable projects aligned with Nigeria’s industrialisation priorities.
According to the Minister, matching new power generation and transmission capacity with industrial demand would help create jobs while strengthening the commercial viability of the electricity sector.
The engagements form part of the Federal Government’s strategy to use international partnerships to mobilise capital, expand electricity infrastructure, increase system capacity and improve power reliability.
The Ministry said its objective is to transform partnerships into projects, projects into energised infrastructure, and infrastructure into reliable electricity and economic value for Nigerians.
