The first phase of an electricity deal between the Federal Government (FG) and Siemens, the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), officially launched its first training programme on 31 January.
The pre-engineering phase of the PPI includes training support services, with the first activities addressing network development.
Commenting at the launch, the Managing Director of FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, said the training was the first Power System Simulation Software (PSS) session under the Power Technology International (PTI) from Germany.
FGN Power Company is overseeing the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative.
Anuwe pointed out that the training would cut across the power sector value chain comprising the generation, transmission and distribution to be handled by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).
The training will take place over the next four years on different levels to ramp up the competency of those that will be involved in handling the project, explained Anuwe.
He further assured that the project will resolve the existing bottlenecks in transmission and distribution networks, which will increase electricity access across Nigeria reported local news ThisDAY.
“It is important to stress that the benefits of constant and reliable electricity will boost economic activities; improve the lives of small, medium and micro-enterprises across and deliver the much-needed power supply across the country.
“I want to assure you that FGN Power Company will do its best to deliver on this project to ensure greater success and sustainability,” he stated.
The pre-engineering phase of the Presidential Power Initiative, which was previously known as the Nigeria Electrification Roadmap (NER), includes:
- Engineering design
- Finalising project specifications
- Commissioning works for transmission & distribution systems
- Network development studies
- Power simulation
- Training – support services
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed is the chairperson of the board of FGN Power Company, which is overseeing the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative.
The members are the ministers of power, works and housing as well as the minister of justice, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
