(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/coat-of-arms2.gif) In order to fast track Federal Government's vision of generating multiple sources of power to meet the electricity needs of Nigerians, a committee on coal to power generation, has been inaugurated in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
While inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Linus Awute said that the inauguration of the committee was necessitated by the fact that Nigeria is endowed with large quantities of coal deposits that could be exploited for coal-powered plants to meet our electricity needs.
He added that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has the expertise to drive the coal to power generation project to fruition in conjunction with the Ministry of Power and other stakeholders in the country.
Arc. Sada urged the committee members to handle their assignment with all seriousness and commitment in view of its importance to the wellbeing and industrial development of Nigeria.
The six member committee is headed by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Mohammed Amate. Other members of the committee are: The Directors-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, the Chairman, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Director, Mines Inspectorate and the Director, Mines Environmental Compliance. The Director, Mines Inspectorate in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engr. Idris Umar is the secretary of the committee.
The terms of reference of the committee are: collate and evaluate available reports on coal to power initiative with a view to establishing the status of the project; identify all assets of Nigerian Coal Corporation that have not been privatized; Identify the uses of Nigerian coal in addition to coal for power generation and develop a programme for fast tracking the exploitation of the coal resource for power generation and other uses.
The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.
While responding on behalf of the committee members, the chairman of the committee and the Director- General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Mohammed Amate thanked the Minister for finding them worthy of the assignment and assured that they would deliver on their mandate.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria