The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has stated that the Kashimbilla/ Gamovo multi-purpose Dam when completed in 2014, would add 40 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
The Dam has the capacity to supply water of 60,000m3 per day for 400,000 people, irrigation of 2,000 hectares of farmland, including tourism and fishery potentials which would also alleviate poverty.
Ochekpe made the disclosure while inspecting the level of work on the dam alongside the Minister of State for Power, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and reiterated the determination of government to complete the project on time as promised, adding that government would ensure timely release of funds with the passage of the 2012 budget.
The minister promised to ensure timely release of funds for the hydropower component of the dam. He said with hard work and dedication on the part of the contractors and if the tempo of work was maintained, Nigeria can look forward to an additional 40 megawatts to the national grid which, “would be another step towards our hope of having uninterrupted light in Nigeria”
Ochekpe expressed her satisfaction at the level of work on the construction of Kashimbilla/ Gamovo multi-purpose buffer dam and associated structures.? “There is three times more? progress and massive improvement than what we saw three months ago.” She expressed optimism that if the tempo of work was maintained the contractors will be able to complete the work at the specified date”.
The minister noted that the turbines, irrigation components and reservoirs were some of the outstanding works which would ensure that the teeming youths were gainfully employed.
In his remarks, Ishaku said that though the hydropower component of the dam was just starting, he was however satisfied with the concrete work that has been done and expressed optimism that there would be substantial improvement by the end of 2012.