An explosion struck the multimillion-naira Zungeru Hydroelectric Dam in Niger State, Nigeria, on Monday.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has not yet officially commissioned the N1.3 billion-naira Zungeru dam, making it the fourth hydroelectric dam in Niger State after Jebba, Kainji, and Shiroro.
Chronicle NG learned that the Zungeru explosion occurred early Monday morning, though the cause has not been disclosed to the media yet.
Locals confirmed the incident, stating that several workers sustained various degrees of injuries.
The source further disclosed that the injured persons are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, with those more seriously being transported to Minna, the state capital, for intensive medical care.
“We saw a foreign worker, a Chinese national, with severe injuries being taken to Minna for additional medical attention. While the exact number of injured staff is uncertain, it is significant,” the source reported.
In addition to those injured, the explosion also reportedly damaged some installations at the dam, posing a threat to nationwide power outages.
However, Siraj Abdullahi, the Managing Director of Penstock, a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, said, “We are fine in Zungeru; nothing happened, and we are on the grid.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced the connection of the 700 megawatt capacity plant to the National Grid in April 2024.
Adebayo said Nigeria’s electricity increased to 4,800 MW from 4,200 MW for a population estimated at over 200 million.
