The Enugu State Government plans to build a 660MW coal-fired power plant, with groundbreaking set for July 2026, as part of efforts to expand the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
Governor Peter Mbah disclosed this on Wednesday during a solidarity visit by the Organised Private Sector Nigeria, OPSN, to Government House, Enugu.
He said the plant would take 24 months to complete, with a target to commission it by mid-2028.
“Post-2027, you will not have your power go off in Enugu, whether for businesses or residential use. You will also have affordable electricity because it will be the cheapest in the country,” he added.
He cited Enugu’s high-quality coal with less than 0.5% sulfur content and 7,000 kilocalories per kilogramme as an advantage for cleaner, more efficient power generation.
He revealed that the state had secured coal assets and completed feasibility studies over the past two years to ensure steady supply to the plant.
According to him, Enugu was the first state to establish an electricity market after the 2023 constitutional amendment moved power from the exclusive to the concurrent list, allowing states to participate in generation, transmission and distribution.
He also outlined other initiatives, including a technology incubation centre and a partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission to build an Artificial Intelligence Institute in the state.
He said: “In four years, AI will contribute $20 trillion to the global economy. We want Enugu to be at the epicentre, not just as consumers but as producers.”
