GE reaffirms commitment to Nigeria

• 10 years ago (2014-04-15)
• Junior Isles

Africa 320 North America 1021

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US giant General Electric has said it will be working with the Nigerian government and generation companies to double Nigeria’s total generation capacity from 5000 MW to 10 000 MW by 2019.

GE Power and Water’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Bolze, told Nigeria’s media this week that work and discussions with generation firms to deliver the first 3000 MW of new capacity was already under way.

"In the next five years, GE will help to double the amount of power that is available to Nigerians. That is going to be great power… We now today have more than 3000 MW out of those 10 000 MW in the pipeline. So things are moving up," Bolze said.

Bolze also stated that of the 5000 MW of capacity currently on the Nigerian grid, four fifths is already based on GE technology.

GE signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government back in 2013 indicating plans to work with private power generation companies to bolster Nigeria’s generation capacity.

Bolze claimed that the widespread privatisation of power assets was encouraging power investment and seemed to indicate that plans to reach the 10 000 MW target could now move forward, concluding that "providing electricity to everyone will take time," but "the reform activities and the privatisation activities are the right steps to move forward on that right now."