The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Egbin Power Plant have strengthened the gas supply for power partnership with a view to enabling the plant work at encouraging capacity.
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Yusuf Usman, announced this when he led the NNPC’s team in a facility tour of the plant in Lagos.
He expressed that maintained that the NNPC was impressed with the turnaround at the thermal power station, which he said represents value addition to the nation’s power sector.
“The visit has been an eye opener for me,” Usman said, adding; “We have seen turbines that have been running for over 40 years. We have seen efforts being made by Egbin management to effect a turnaround at the plant through overhaul of he entire system.We have also seen the support you have been given to the youths through employment and capacity development opportunities.
“I have listened to the concerns your raised, particularly, in the area of transmission restrictions. I am aware that works are ongoing in this regards to ensure that all the power we generate is safely evacuated.An area of concern to me is when you talked about the gas constraints. We are going to support you to make sure that the power supply is steady. We are having a session with gas suppliers in this regard.”
Speaking,chairman of the company,Temitope Shonubi,said the Egbin Power plan to add additional 1,900 mega watt to the Nigeria’s power generation.
He told his guests that the plant has gone through major overhauling, which has helped to increase its generation from the low capacity it had before 2013.
He added:”Egbin has 1,320 MW capacity. As at the time we took over, the plant was generating 300MW which is abysmal 22 per cent.As at today, our generation capacity has surged and we do 89 per cent.We have reached 970 MW, the peak generation fir the year and we are working hard to ensure sustainability of this feat. The 970MW we hit is the highest for the year and based on our core value of sustainability, we are working round the clock to make sure that we sustain the gains, which we have made.”
Shonubi,who said his company facing grid limitation, gas constraints, and liquidity challenges, disclosed that the NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have been shown commitment to nip the issues in the bud.
