Forty Chinese engineers have finally visited the site
of the 3,050 MW Mambilla hydro-power project at
Gembu in Taraba State.
The high-profile visit which took place weekend is
preparatory to the take-off of the project, Daily
Trust reports.
The visit was undertaken in the company of officials
from the Federal Ministry Power, Works and Housing and heavy security.

It was gathered that this was the first time such a
number of experts visited the site since the plan to
construct the dam was conceived several decades
ago.
The squabbles over the Engineering, Procurement
and Construction (EPC) contract between two
Chinese companies Gezhouba Construction Group
Corporation (CGGC) and the Sinohydro
Corporation that caused setbacks previously, is
said by officials to have been resolved.

It was also learnt that the scope of work at the site
has finally been presented by the Chinese
contractors to the federal government.
The Director, Energy Resources Development in
the Ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi said project cost
had been reviewed by the Bureau of Public
Procurement (BPP) valuing it at $5.732billion
(about N1.140trn).
The federal government will contribute its 15%
equity financing after raking in about N1trillion
from the sales of the ten gas-based power plants
under the National Integrated Power Projects
(NIPPs) while the 85% funding from China is
already domiciled with the China Export-Import
(EXIM) Bank.