Turbine Commissioning Completed at 700 MW Zungeru hydropower project in Niger state

GE Vernova has announced the commissioning of four 175 MW turbines and generators at the 700 MW Zungeru hydropower project on the Kaduna River has been completed in the Niger state, Nigeria.

GE Vernova was chosen by the contractor China National Electrical Equipment Corporation (CNEEC) to oversee the design, supply, installation supervision, and commissioning of the units. CNEEC, in collaboration with Powerchina and the local Decrown West Africa Company, has been constructing the US$1.2 billion plant since 2013. The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim) is financing this project. Powerchina has reported the successful completion of full-load power generation and grid connection tests at the Zungeru facility, marking the station's entry into its final completion phase. The Zungeru plant is anticipated to generate 2,630 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. Apart from electricity generation, the plant will also serve purposes such as flood control, irrigation water provision, and fish breeding facilities. 

The scope of the project included: 

• A composite dam with a roller-compacted concrete dam of 11,419 million cubic meters;
• Rock-fill dams;
• Spillway and plunge pool;
• Power intake and penstocks;
• Hydroelectric plant;
• Tail race channel;
• Switchyards; and
• 330/132KV transmission lines evacuating power to the existing grid, connecting the Jebba and Shiroro 330kV plants and the Tegina 132KV substation.