KEDCO to invest N1.2b in network expansion

KANO Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has concluded plans to invest N1.2 billion in network expansion and improvement of power supply to the famous Dawanau International Grains Market, Kano State.

  The Head, Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani, stated, yesterday, that the network expansion and power generation were some of the company’s major plans to improve power supply in an accelerated fashion, especially in areas such as Dawanau International Grains Market, the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, with numerous cottage industries.

  According to him, KEDCO is prioritising the Dawanau project among a string of similar projects, due to its dilapidated network that left the area underserved.

  KEDCO Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abubakar Yusuf, said they had engaged three reputable companies to construct 35 kilometres of 33KV high tension (HT) line from Bichi Transmission Sub-station to Dawanau market, instal two 500KVA 33/415 transformers and low tension (LT) lines to serve the area and environs at the N1.2 billion.

  He added: “The project is aimed at improving quality and efficiency of power supply to industrial and commercial clusters in the grain market, which is equally in line with our vision to enable re-industrialisation and economic empowerment within our franchise states.”

  The company’s Chief Technical Officer, Inuwa Daneji, remarked that upon completion of the project, there would be increase in energy off-take by 200 per cent and commensurate growth in revenue for KEDCO.

   He said: “On take-over in November 2023, the new core investor (Future Energies Africa) immediately embarked on network rehabilitation and expansion to improve access to quality and reliable power supply for the socio-economic growth of KEDCO’s tri-state of operation. 

  “While these initiatives will further strengthen the existing relationship among stakeholders and explore other business opportunities within the same space and beyond, the investors remain unrelenting in the same trend across the franchise area.”