Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has scheduled to commission the newly constructed thirty-five km, 33 kV overhead power line from Bichi Transmission Station to Dawanau International Grain Market.
The project, which comprises two substations, 500 KVA 33/.415 transformers, and low-tension (LT) lines, will serve Africa鈥檚 largest grain hub to foster economic growth in the state and the country at large.
The N1.1 billion project is part of the focused investment being driven by the new core investor in Kano DisCo, Future Energies Africa (FEA), as it works with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the State governments in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to improve the Electricity Distribution Company rapidly, according to a statement by KEDCO鈥檚 head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani
The acting managing director/CEO, Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta disclosed this during an inspection tour to the Dawanau area in Kano recently.
鈥淲e recognise the critical role of the Dawanau Market, especially in agricultural export, food security, and the region鈥檚 socio-economic development. Previously limping on four hours of daily power, we will now be supplying 20+ hours, thereby increasing its electricity capacity by 10MW, attracting 400+ medium and large-scale agro-processing plants and reducing their operating cost by 80 per cent for sustainable growth,鈥 he said.
Dr. Jimeta also noted that, this crucial project dovetails with the Kano State Government鈥檚 broader market standardisation program, through the State Government鈥檚 recent partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF) that is investing N628 million in infrastructure upgrades, improved waste management, better security and facilities, and now, we are providing reliable, stable electricity to complement those efforts.
A director on the board of KEDCO, Alh. Habib Ahmed Daura, speaking about the project, thanked governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his constant emphasis on the need to bring the Dawanau Market up to benchmark standards for modern commercial hubs.
Alh. Ahmed Daura stated that, 鈥渨e are receiving great support from His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf鈥檚 team, Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, and Engr. Sani Bala, Managing Director of Kano State Rural Electricity Board, who are constantly engaging to ensure improved electricity supply outcomes for the citizens in Kano.鈥
KEDCO鈥檚 chairman, Engr. Adamu Ibrahim Gumel, in his comments, stated that, 鈥渢he investment addresses significant constraints on the industrial cluster鈥檚 growth potential as the largest international grain hub in sub-Saharan Africa and will also drastically boost KEDCO鈥檚 energy off-take, leading to equivalent growth in revenue for the company.
鈥淲ith the project completed, tested, and set for commissioning, the market is poised to experience a sharp uptick in power quality and availability. Customers in the Dawanau industrial cluster should expect steadier power flows, fewer outages, and increased capacity for industrial-sized power users,鈥 he said.
鈥淯nder the guidance of our core investor, Future Energies Africa (FEA), network expansion and power generation are some of the company鈥檚 major plans to improve power supply in an accelerated fashion, especially in industrial and commercial clusters, for economic and financial growth of the region,鈥 he added.
As a key trade hub in the Sahel, Dawanau underpins regional food security and cross-border commerce. This project expands KEDCO鈥檚 customer base and energy sales, reinforcing its financial health and capacity for further infrastructure upgrades.