(Power Ministry Report) – The Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil has said that the Nigerian Government through the Power Ministry is poised to fast-track the construction of the proposed 2,000 Megawatts Capacity Plant in Ebonyi State in partnership with American and Korean investors.
While speaking in a technical session aimed out resolving the grey areas in the project execution, Mohammed Wakil described the project as complimentary to the Transformation Agenda of the President, saying power is vital to other economic indicators and if fixed other problems will be curtailed. .
The Minister of State for Power expressed the Ministry’s preparedness for timely delivery of the project; adding that in no distant future, the project will become a reality. He directed the Ministry officials to provide his office with the monthly progress report on the project.
To further confirm the commitment of the Ministry to the Ebonyi State Project, Mohammed Wakil informed that the transmission infrastructure to guarantee the evacuation of 1,000MW has already been confirmed. He further identified the facilities to include: 2x60MVA and 132KV Sub-station at Amasiri – Afikpo as well as 2x132Kv line by extension at Abakiliki. He also mentioned the Abakaliki – Amasiri 132KV DC line, promising that the Ministry will install the facilities to evacuate the balance of 1,000MW power before the project gets completed.
He added that the ministry through its agencies such as the Electricity Management Services (EMS) will have an Area Office in Ebonyi State and informed that forty other on-going rural electrification projects are ongoing in different locations in the State. The Ministry of Power, he said will assist with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report from the Federal Ministry of Environment, whilst the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will assist in providing licences as required by law.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power in his welcome address commended the Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi for his visionary strides in engaging an Independent Power Project (IPP) in Ebonyi State. He emphasized that the project is capable of contributing immensely to the national grid towards according focus and direction to the President’s Transformation Agenda for the power sector in the area of increased power generation.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, who was leader of the seven-man delegation of Project Consultants as well as American and Korean investors in his remarks, said that the project is dear to the people of Ebonyi State. He also requested for support from the Ministry for timely completion of the project.
Martin Elechi noted that he was in the Ministry of Power for the fourth time regarding the project, inferring from his conviction that the project will provide abundant power for the people of Ebonyi State for utilisation in different activities and businesses as well as supply power to other parts of Nigeria through the national grid.
The Ebonyi State Governor added that his presence in the ministry aims at requesting for assistance towards tackling technical and environmental challenges militating against smooth execution of the project.
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