Guardian

…Omotosho facility hits full capacity

BARRING any unforeseen circumstances, one of the nation’s National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) - Geregu power plant would commence power generation to national grid by this weekend. The plant is expected to take-off with about 144Mega Watts (MW).

The Deputy General Manager, Communications and Public Relations, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPCH), Yakubu Lawal, who confirmed this to The Guardian Tuesday, said all arrangements have been put in place, and the plant would be ready for take-off by Friday.

According to him, the plant, which operates on three unit turbines, would start generation from one of the units, thereby churning out about 144Mega Watts (MW) to the national grid. Geregu power plant located in Kogi State has a combined capacity of 434MW.

Lawal said the plant was first fired on Friday, while other integrity tests have been carried out, adding that gas supply is presently steady for the plant’s take-off.

The other two units according to him, are therefore expected to be fired by the end of first quarter of the year.

He described this feat as a major achievement towards growing the nation’s generation capacity, even as he confirmed that the Omotosho power plant in Ondo State (Phase II) has commenced full operation in December.

With the commencement of its fourth unit, the power plant is now operating at full capacity, boosting the national grid by another 500MW.

A visit to the power plant recently showed that the phase II of the facility is up and running through a combined turbine units.

The Managing Director, NDPHC, James Olotu, who inspected the new power plant in Ondo State recently, was very impressed about the project and optimistic that the plant would serve as critical factor to the nation’s generation capacity.

Omotosho power plant is in two phases-the phase one has installed capacity of 335mw, while the phase II has a 500mw capacity. The plant operates on four turbine units of 125mw each. It is presently operating on a temporary gas arrangement, while the main gas process is at advanced stage.

Olotu, had also noted that power generation from the NIPP projects has peaked 1,687MW and expected to reach about 4,800MW by May 2014.

He stated that with the completion of all the gas turbine projects, the NIPP capacity would hit 4,264MW by the end of 2013, adding that there would be follow up on the outstanding combined cycle for Alaoji (510MW) this year.

The NDPHC boss also assured of follow up on the completion of transmission and distribution projects, while plans are in the pipeline to complete gas projects and conclude all Gas Sales Aggregator Agreements (GSAA) and Gas Transmission Agreements (GTA).

Meanwhile, the contractor handling Sokoto Independent Power Project (IPP) project has promises to complete the project in seven months.

An official of MJB International, Mr Jim Page, suppliers of the N3.8 billion equipment for the project, said all hands were be on deck to complete the project within sevenmonths.

“The project is a reality and it will be completed in the next seven months, hopefully with no delays,”

However, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, said that the bulk of the equipment needed to complete the project had been transported to Sokoto.

“The remainder equipment contained in about fifteen containers has all arrived in Lagos and will be transported to Sokoto in the next few days. The project will be a reality and it is aimed at boosting power supply in Sokoto State. It will also attract more investors to our state. We want to augment power supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) from the present megawatts ratio,” he said.

The General Manager (Operations), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a subsidiary of the PHCN, Atiku Tambuwal, said PHCN is happy with the partnership, assuring residents of the state of unflinching support of PHCN to the project.

“Sokoto State’s current electricity consumption need is between 60 and 65 mega watts. Presently, the state gets electricity supply of not more than 25 mega watts. But the IPP project will greatly boost power supply to the state,” he said.