FG Plans $2bn East-West Grid to Raise Transmission Capacity to 19,000MW

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has unveiled plans to invest $2 billion in an East-West Super Grid to expand Nigeria’s electricity transmission capacity to at least 19,000 megawatts.

The Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this during an interview on TVC Breakfast on Monday, saying procurement for the project had commenced and the infrastructure could be completed within two years.

He said the proposed transmission network would complement the existing national grid, strengthen its resilience and improve the stability of electricity supply across the country.

According to him, the project is not intended to replace the national grid but to address weaknesses in the existing transmission infrastructure and provide additional capacity to support growing electricity demand.

“The East-West Grid is going to cost about $2 billion. But again, it will have capacity for us to effectively have at least 19,000 megawatts capacity,” he said.

Mr Tegbe explained that the proposed network would traverse different parts of the country, connecting major electricity transmission corridors.

He identified ageing infrastructure as one of the major challenges facing the power sector, noting that some transmission lines and associated facilities were more than 50 years old and increasingly vulnerable to breakdowns.

The minister said the government was conducting a technical audit of the electricity sector to identify infrastructure requiring repairs, upgrades or replacement.

Beyond transmission, he said the government was targeting 20,000 megawatts of electricity generation, adding that industrialist Aliko Dangote had expressed commitment to supporting the expansion drive.

Mr Tegbe also identified hydroelectric projects as potential sources of additional electricity, including the Mambilla project, which has an estimated generation capacity of 3,000 megawatts.

He further disclosed that the government had identified 21 dams along the Sokoto-Badagry Express Road corridor for possible development into small hydropower projects.

According to him, discussions were ongoing with investors to develop the identified dams and increase their contribution to the country’s electricity supply.

The minister said greater private sector participation in electricity distribution and transmission would also be critical to improving power supply and building a more reliable national electricity network.