Oyo mulls independent power plants

OYO State Government may soon adopt the Independent Power Project (IPP) initiative to raise power generation and supply profile in the state. As part of the plans to kick-start the project, the state government has begun feasibility study on the scheme project to identify the challenges and viability of the initiative.

This indication emerged when the state delegation visited Lagos State independent power plants to understudy their operations. The group however commended Lagos State government on its IPP initiated to provide reliable electrical power to the state-owned and managed establishments.

The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Works, Oyesola Oyetunji Oyedele, who led the delegation from Oyo State, said the visit to understudy Lagos which has recorded tremendous success in independent power project was necessitated by the desire of Oyo State to use the Lagos model in solving its energy crisis especially powering state owned institutions.

He therefore expressed satisfaction with the progress made by Lagos State Government in independent power project initiatives. Conducting the delegates round some power plants, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs Regina Obasa disclosed that five power plants with an accumulated capacity of 47.5 Mega Watts (MW) have been commissioned in various strategic locations across the state.

“The first independent power plant situated in Akute with an installed capacity of 12.16mw supplies electric power to the Akute intake of the State Water works.

The Island power plant powers the Lagos House Marina, General Hospital, High courts and public lightening on the Island while the 8.5mw Peninsular IPP powers the water works in ikoyi, lekki, Victoria island, lekki/ikoyi bridge and other public lightening in the area,” she said.

She continued: “The other power plant situated in Alausa with an installed capacity of 10.4mw powers the Alausa Secretariat, LTV/Radio Lagos, printing corporation, Staff quarter and public lightening within the secretariat while the 8.8mw Mainland Power Plant situated in GRA Ikeja powers state institutions and public lightening within the GRA axis.

Obasa said that with uninterrupted power supply from the IPPs to power street lights and other state owned institutions, security, social and economic life of the citizenry have been improved tremendously.