Nigeria’s Power Minister Joseph Tegbe Secures TBEA Commitment for Power Equipment Industrial Park, 2,000MW Transmission Boost

Nigeria has secured a major commitment from Chinese power equipment manufacturer TBEA to establish a power and energy equipment industrial park in Nigeri, in a move that could accelerate local manufacturing, technology transfer and job creation across the country’s electricity value chain.

The commitment was secured by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, during a high-level meeting at TBEA’s headquarters in Beijing as part of his working visit to engage original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and technical partners supporting the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

The proposed industrial park is expected to position Nigeria as a regional manufacturing and export hub for critical power-sector equipment, reducing dependence on imported components while developing indigenous supply chains and technical capacity.

Tegbe described TBEA as a long-term strategic development partner, rather than simply a contractor, stressing that the Federal Government’s investment strategy is focused on attracting companies that bring technology, manufacturing capability and skills development alongside capital.

“Our objective is not simply to procure equipment. We want to build the capacity to manufacture, maintain and eventually export the equipment Nigeria needs to power its industrial transformation,” Tegbe said.

TBEA targets projects capable of unlocking more than 2,000MW

Beyond the proposed industrial park, TBEA renewed its commitment to accelerate ongoing transmission and distribution projects in Nigeria, including infrastructure expected to help unlock more than 2,000MW of stranded electricity capacity for consumers.

The projects are also expected to strengthen bulk power supply to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and improve the ability of the transmission network to deliver available generation to demand centres.

Tegbe pressed for faster completion of outstanding PPI projects, emphasising that infrastructure that has been contracted and substantially developed must be completed and put into service so Nigerians can begin to realise its economic benefits.

He also called for planned grid infrastructure to be extended along the East-West corridor, reinforcing the government’s focus on expanding the transmission backbone needed to support industrial activity and economic growth across the country.

EV charging infrastructure enters investment discussions

The Beijing engagement also opened discussions on the feasibility of developing electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Nigeria, signalling a potential new investment opportunity as the country’s energy system evolves around renewable energy, energy storage and emerging electric mobility technologies.

The discussions with TBEA therefore extend beyond conventional power infrastructure, reflecting the government’s broader effort to attract investment into the technologies that will shape Nigeria’s future energy economy.

From importing equipment to building power-sector capacity

The outcomes of the Beijing engagement point to a wider ambition for Nigeria’s electricity sector: moving from equipment importation to domestic manufacturing, from stranded generation to delivered electricity, and from transactional contracting to long-term industrial partnerships.

For the Federal Government, the objective is ultimately to build a power sector capable of supporting industrialisation, job creation and sustained economic growth.

The proposed TBEA industrial park, alongside the acceleration of transmission projects capable of unlocking more than 2,000MW and exploration of EV charging infrastructure, represents a potentially significant step in that direction.