The Senate has mandated its Committee on Power to investigate the delay in the distribution of 100 megawatts of electricity to communities in Delta North.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Address the Unexplained Delay in Electricity Step-Down of Okpai Independent Power Plant,” sponsored by Sen.Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) at Thursday’s plenary.
Presenting the motion, Nwoko said that Nigeria had 23 power generation plants, also known as independent power plants (IPPs), that were interconnected with the national grid.
“These plants have a combined capacity to generate 11,165.4 megawatts of electricity.
“One of these facilities is the Okpai Independent Power Plant, situated in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta.
“This power plant operates a functional 930-megawatt gas-fired power generation facility that contributes to Nigeria’s power supply grid.
“These independent power plants are managed by independent power providers and the Niger Delta Holding Company,” he said.
Nwoko added: “Okpai Independent Power Plant, on the other hand, is operated and managed by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
“In April 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo commissioned the Okpai Independent Power Plant and ordered the immediate implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the plant.
“This included the provision of 50 megawatts of electricity to benefit the host communities within a 50-kilometer radius of the plant.
“At the time of the plant’s commissioning in 2005, it generated only 480 megawatts of electricity.
“Nevertheless, it played a crucial role in the national power distribution system in Nigeria by supplying electricity to nine distant states in the country, including Anambra, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, among others.”
Nwoko said that Okpai Independent Power Plant had been upgraded to provide a functional 930 megawatts of electricity.
“This is with another order and understanding to increase the power supply to host communities from 50 megawatts to 100 megawatts.
“This extension will include host community beneficiaries from the entire Delta North Senatorial District of Delta.
“The plant has earned a reputation as the most consistent power plant in the country,” he said.
He also said that to enhance its electricity supply, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) awarded a N4.2 billion contract in 2021 for the construction of a 132KV double-circuit transmission line.
“However, to date, there have been unexplained delays in executing the contract project,” he said.
Akpabio referred the matter to the Senate Committee on Power for further legislative work and to report back to plenary in one month. (NAN)
