Overview#
Taraba is the Mambilla Plateau hydropower state — the long-delayed 3,050 MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Project (planned since 1972; financing closed 2017 with China Exim Bank; construction stalled by the 2017 ICSID Sunrise Power & Transmission Company arbitration) would be the largest single power station in sub-Saharan Africa. It also has lead-zinc-barytes in the Middle Benue Trough, the Mambilla highland tea estate, and substantial coal.
Geology & Deposits#
Hydropower. Mambilla Plateau — Donga River — proposed 3,050 MW plant (Gembu LGA). Construction not commenced as of 2024 owing to arbitration. Lead-zinc-barytes. Wukari, Ibi, Takum — Middle Benue Trough. Coal. Lamja-Salihi, Akwana — sub-bituminous. Tin, columbite. Mambilla plateau small. Limestone, kaolin, gypsum. Various. Hydrocarbons. None. Tea & coffee. Mambilla Plateau — NITEL/Mambilla Beverage Limited Tea Estate, Kakara — the only commercial tea estate in Nigeria. Agricultural produce. Yam, rice, sesame, ginger, coffee (small).
Operators & Output#
- NIETU / Federal Ministry of Power — Mambilla project sponsor. - Sunrise Power & Transmission Company — ICSID claimant (2017). - Mambilla Beverage Ltd — Kakara tea estate. - Small-scale Pb-Zn artisanal operators — Ibi, Wukari.
Host-Community & Revenue#
No oil derivation. The Mambilla project, if built, would relocate ~100,000 residents in Sardauna LGA; community-engagement plans have repeatedly been redrawn.
Current Status#
Producing: Kakara tea (small-scale), Wukari-Ibi Pb-Zn (artisanal), yam and rice. Frontier: Mambilla Hydroelectric Project.
References
Sources#
- Sunrise Power & Transmission Company Ltd v Federal Republic of Nigeria, ICSID Case No. ARB/17/29.
- Federal Ministry of Power — Mambilla project status reports.
- Mambilla Beverage Ltd.