KINGSLEY EBERE
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has concluded a round of high-level engagements with China’s top power engineering firms and financial institutions, securing renewed commitments to accelerate delivery of projects under the Presidential Power Initiative, PPI and to deepen Chinese participation in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The meetings, held in Beijing as part of the ongoing Nigeria–China power sector mission, focused on one clear objective: turning agreements into bankable projects that deliver measurable results in megawatts added to the grid, kilometers of transmission lines energized, and longer hours of reliable electricity for homes and businesses.
In strategic talks with Sinomach Group and China Machinery Engineering Corporation, CMEC, two of the biggest contractors handling Nigeria’s generation and transmission projects, the Minister emphasized the need for firm completion schedules on all ongoing PPI contracts.
He also called for a shift from the traditional engineering, procurement and construction model to a full-scope partnership. Under this new approach, Chinese companies would not only build assets but also co-invest in them by providing capital, technology transfer, and technical expertise.
The areas of focus include power generation, transmission, hydropower development, and support for industrial manufacturing linked to the power sector. Leveraging CMEC’s existing footprint in Nigeria, the Ministry expects this deeper partnership to produce faster delivery timelines, expanded wheeling capacity, and access to blended financing that reduces pressure on government funding.
Recognizing that weaknesses in transmission are a major cause of load shedding, the Minister also held talks with China National Electric Engineering Corporation, CNEEC to advance cooperation on Nigeria’s transmission network expansion.
To ensure quality and speed, the Nigerian delegation witnessed a factory acceptance test for high-voltage cables and transmission materials at Hengfei Cable’s Changsha Industrial Park. The test confirmed that equipment meant for Nigerian projects meets required technical standards before shipment.
Officials say this pre-shipment verification will help shorten installation periods and reduce the risk of delays once materials arrive in the country. It also ensures that only certified components are deployed on the national grid.
The Minister stressed that electricity infrastructure must be matched with productive demand to create jobs and sustain the sector commercially. He invited Chinese corporations to invest in industries that consume large amounts of power and drive economic growth.
Priority sectors identified include steel production, automotive manufacturing, digital infrastructure and data centers, cold-chain logistics, and sugar processing.
To coordinate this, he proposed the creation of a structured Nigeria–China industrial cooperation platform. The platform will screen, develop, and promote bankable projects that align with Nigeria’s industrialization agenda. The goal is to ensure that new generation and transmission capacity is supported by anchor industrial customers, making projects more bankable and sustainable.
The engagements reinforce the Ministry’s broader strategy of using international partnerships to mobilize capital, expand infrastructure, increase system capacity, and improve service delivery.
For the Ministry, success will be measured not by the number of memoranda signed, but by completed projects that translate into stable power supply and economic value.
“The objective is clear,” the Minister stated. “We must convert partnerships into projects, projects into energized infrastructure, and infrastructure into reliable power that supports businesses and improves the daily lives of Nigerians.”
With the renewed Chinese commitment, the Ministry expects to see faster progress on PPI projects in the coming months as financing and technical agreements are finalized.