Susan Abayomi
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has concluded a series of high-level engagements with leading Chinese power engineering companies and financial institutions, securing commitments to accelerate the delivery of Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects and expand Chinese participation across Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
The engagements, held in Beijing as part of the ongoing Nigeria-China power sector mission, focused on turning proposed partnerships into bankable projects, financed investments and completed infrastructure capable of delivering measurable improvements in electricity supply.
At a strategic meeting with Sinomach Group and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), two major contractors involved in Nigeria’s power generation and transmission programmes, Tegbe called for firm and accelerated completion schedules for ongoing PPI projects.
He also advocated a broader partnership model that would go beyond conventional engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts.
Under the proposed framework, Chinese partners would participate not only in the construction of power infrastructure but also in its financing and development, contributing capital, technology and technical expertise to generation, transmission, hydropower and related industrial investments.
Building on CMEC’s existing presence in Nigeria, the minister outlined expectations for the partnership to support faster project delivery, increase transmission capacity and facilitate blended financing arrangements.
Tegbe also visited the China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) to advance cooperation on Nigeria’s transmission network, a critical component of the electricity value chain where infrastructure constraints can contribute directly to power supply challenges affecting households and businesses.
As part of efforts to strengthen transmission infrastructure, the Nigerian delegation witnessed a factory acceptance test for high-voltage cables and other transmission materials at Hengfei Cable’s Changsha Industrial Park.
The test was conducted to verify that equipment intended for Nigerian transmission projects meets the required technical standards before shipment. According to the ministry, the process is expected to support faster installation and reduce the risk of delays after the materials arrive in Nigeria.
Recognising that improved electricity supply must also support productive economic activity, Tegbe invited Chinese companies to invest in strategic industries that are significant users of electricity and important drivers of economic growth.
The sectors identified include steel, automotive manufacturing, digital infrastructure and data centres, cold-chain logistics and sugar processing.
The minister also proposed the establishment of a structured Nigeria-China industrial cooperation platform to identify, assess and develop bankable projects aligned with Nigeria’s industrialisation priorities.
The proposed approach would help ensure that increased power generation and transmission capacity is matched with strong industrial demand, supporting job creation while improving the commercial sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The engagements form part of the Ministry of Power’s broader strategy of using international partnerships to mobilise investment, expand electricity infrastructure, increase system capacity and improve reliability.
For the ministry, the objective is to translate partnerships into bankable projects, projects into completed infrastructure, and infrastructure into more reliable electricity and greater economic value for Nigerians.
