The photo is sourced from constructionreviewonline.com
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the installed capacity of Nigerian HPPs at the end of 2021 was up to 2,111 MW. The country’s main hydroelectric power plants are the Jebba HPP (578 MW) and the Kainji HPP (760 MW) located on the River Niger, and the Shiroko HPP (600 MW) put into operation on the Kaduna River, the Niger’s left tributary, in 1990. At the same time, in 2022, the first power unit of the Zungeru HPP was connected to the public grid. Its capacity after launching of the other three units will be 700 MW.
Hydropower plants are the second largest generation source in Nigeria, accounting for 21.7% of generation in 2021, while the gas-fired power plants – for 75.9% and all the other fossil sources – for 2.3% (with 0.1% of solar panels), according to the Ember Research Centre. At the same time, rural areas are distinguished by a low level of connection to the grid: 84% of city households had access to electricity in 2020, but it was only 25% in villages. The government has been trying to find solution to this problem through introduction of new generating capacities. According to the Global Energy Monitor, in addition to the 23 operating gas-fired power plants with a total capacity of 10,968 MW, three 839 MW plants were under construction in the country in July 2022.
The HPP construction will allow the country to decrease energy shortages and reduce emissions. According to the World Bank, Nigeria accounts for 14% of CO2 emissions among more than forty sub-Saharan countries. In terms of specific carbon dioxide emissions (0.6 tons per person), it is ahead of most countries in the region, including Cameroon (0.4 tons per person), Côte d’Ivoire (0.4 tons per person) and Malawi (0. 1 ton per person).
