China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), that shot to fame after
being the main constructor on the Three Gorges project, has secured
the contract to build the 2600 Megawatt (Mw) Mambilla plateau
hydropower station in Nigeria, it was announced on Monday.
The US$1.46 billion project will involve the largest
hydroelectric power station ever built by a Chinese company in
Africa, according to the group, headquartered in Hubei Province 's Yichang City.
"Our group has mastered the world's most advanced dam building
and river closure technology. Despite environmental challenges and
geological structures unique to Africa, we are confident we can
build a Nigerian 'Three Gorges' that will benefit the African
people," said CGGC President Yang Jixue.
Back in 2005, Yang met with visiting Nigerian President Olusegun
Obasanjo in 2005 and introduced his company's services. Obasanjo
was reportedly enthused and wrote on his business card: Welcome to
Nigeria, the Mambilla Station is waiting for you, Yang
revealed.
Currently being designed, the dam's construction is set to take
six years and nine months, the Nigerian federal government
announced.
The Mambilla station is part of Nigeria's National Integrated
Power Plants (NIPP). This program has been injected with US$2.5
billion in funds as Obajsanjo's administration seeks to improve the
nation's power transmission infrastructure and distribution
network.
The foundations of this deal hark back to the when China and
Nigeria signed major deals, including one whereby China agreed to
build the hydroelectric power.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)