The Kano Electricity Distribution Company has concluded plans to invest N1.2bn in network expansion and improvement in power supply to the famous Dawanau International Grains Market in Kano.

This was contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at KEDCO, Sani Bala Sani, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.

He said the expansion and power generation are some of the company’s major plans to improve power supply in an accelerated fashion, especially in areas such as Dawanau International Grains Market, being the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, with numerous cottage industries.

According to him, the company is prioritising the Dawanau project amongst a string of similar projects due to its current dilapidated network, leaving the area underserved.

“This is hindering the potential of the market as a catalyst for economic growth of Kano state and the northern part of Nigeria,” he said.

Commenting on the development, the company’s acting Managing Director, Abubakar Yusuf, said, “We have engaged three reputable companies to actualise construction of 35 km of 33 KV high tension (HT) line from Bichi Transmission Sub-station to Dawanau market, installation of 2 Nos 500KVA 33/.415 transformers, and low tension (LT) lines to serve the area and environs at the cost of N1.2 billion.

He added, “The project is aimed at improving the 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-industrialization and economic empowerment within our franchise states.”

In his remarks, the company’s Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Inuwa Daneji, said, “Upon completion of the project, we forecast an increase in energy offtake by 200 per cent and an equivalent growth in revenue for KEDCO.”

On takeover in November 2023, the new core investor (Future Energies Africa) immediately embarked on network rehabilitation and expansion aimed at improving access to quality and reliable power supply for the socio-economic growth of KEDCO’s tri-state 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.