The head of Green and Digital Economy at the European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, has announced that the EU is exploring the potential for establishing a hydropower generation site at Asso Falls in Plateau State.
The hydropower project, which is expected to generate 2 megawatts of electricity, is part of the EU’s mandate and its partnership with the state to provide clean, safe, affordable, and renewable energy.
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The project also aims to support sustainable agricultural practices, industry, tourism, and boost the economy of the state.
Stefanowicz, who shared this information during the delegation’s visit to the state to assess Asso Falls, emphasised the importance of collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power to integrate the project into Nigeria’s larger electricity market development.
“With electricity generation, we will support agriculture, industry, and tourism. That’s a very good combination,” Stefanowicz said.
She further revealed that the EU is working with the Plateau State government and other stakeholders to evaluate the technical, financial, and environmental feasibility of the hydropower project.
“Plateau State, with its rich agricultural potential, could benefit greatly from reliable energy, boosting crop production and agro-processing,” she added.
In his address, the managing director of the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Ponzing Gamde, stated that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is conducting a feasibility study to determine the potential capacity of the hydropower project.
“UNIDO is currently conducting a feasibility study here. They have completed their preliminary data collection and will now develop a design to assess the potential capacity that can be generated from here,” he said.
Gamde further discussed the project’s benefits, stating, “With this power, there will also be an improvement in cultural activities. The power will ensure that activities do not come to a halt at certain points.”
A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Owen Karyit Dagogot, expressed full support for the project, saying, “This place is going to be utilized to its full potential. It is an advantage because the foundations are on firm ground.”
Director of Technical Services at the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Sam Gyang Yakubu, spoke about the technical aspects of the project. He noted that while dam construction typically takes time, the timeline for this project could be as short as two to three years. “Evacuation will not be a challenge here, based on the way we have set up the entire layout,” he said.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Power, Dina Temitope, highlighted the national significance of the project. “For us at the ministry, we’ve had the 30:30 vision, which is to generate 30 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, with 30 percent of our energy needs coming from renewable sources,” he said.
Programme Manager for Energy and Circular Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Godfrey Ogbemudia, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustainability, saying, “We want to ensure that EU taxpayers’ money is fully utilized. It’s not a donation. You could transport all the power from here to any other agricultural hub where pre-processing is happening.”