Radda Meets Vergnet Groupe Over Abandoned 10MW Wind Farm Project
Governor Umar Radda of Katsina State has met with officials of the French firm Vergnet Groupe, over the abandoned 10MW Wind Farm project in Lambar Rimi.
The wind farm project was started by late Umaru Musa Yar’adua in 2005 when he was the governor of Katsina State.
The Federal Government took over the project in 2007 and awarded it to Messrs Vergnet SA in 2010 at the cost of £18,500,000 plus N494 million, with a completion period of 24 months, which would have been in 2012.
The contract was subsequently revoked and awarded to Crown Resources Development Company Limited (CREDCO).
The project will have 37 units of 275-kilowatt (kw) wind turbine generators mounted at a height of 55 meter on an inclinable tower to generate power from wind.
It also comes with the construction of 23 kilometres of 33 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line from the 10MW Wind Farm.
The line evacuates the generated power to the 132/33kV substation belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and from the substation, a 33kV transmission line spanning 17km has been constructed to link the 132/33kV TCN substation at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University in Katsina along with the extension of the 33kV bus bar.
The project has, however, defied at least eight completion dates and had thus far gulped almost N5 billion since its conception.
Governor Radda at his meeting with the Vergnet Groupe, the Original Equipment Manufacturers, in Paris, France, expressed commitment in working with the Vergnet Groupe to energise the project.
According to him, the administration remains dedicated to ensuring the full operation of the wind farm.
The Governor also said that the state plans to have a 10MW Solar Farm to complement the wind farm project. “This will provide clean and renewable energy to power approximately 4,400 homes across Katsina State.”
“These projects are integral to Katsina State’s vision to become a leading renewable energy hub in Nigeria and contribute to the country’s broader transition to a sustainable energy future.”
