ARISE Agenda: Akwa Ibom State Government targets 24hrs power supply
Inline with Pastor Umo Eno’s Arise Agenda goal of providing quality and uninterrupted electricity in Akwa Ibom State, the Honourable Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the State owned Ibom Power Company (IPC) at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
The Commissioner on arrival was received by the Maintenance Team of the Company who showed him round the facility to obtain first hand information about the power plant with an installed capacity of about 191mw.
Engr. Umoh has, since his redeployment from Ministry of Trade and Investment, carried out routine inspection of power substations amongst other facilities, with the view to tackling the teething problems bedevilling constant power supply to the people of the State, hence his recent visit to the IPC.
Engr. Umoh had at ministry’s recent solemn assembly charged staff to be committed and dedicated to the goal of providing constant power supply to the expectant citizens of the State.
Current administration’s power goal as enunciated at the just concluded State Dialogue is to provide quality and uninterrupted electricity supply to the people of the State at rural, urban, commercial and industrial premises with viable market that is devoid of subsidy.
Ibom Power Company, is one of the first independent power plants in Nigeria, built during the administration of Obong Victor Attah. The gas-fired power plant, conceived with a projected capacity of about 560MW, has over the years, produced below its expected capacity.
The Limited Liability Company, owned by Akwa Ibom State Government, was licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to generate 191 megawatts of power in May 2008. The license was subsequently increased from 191 megawatts to 685Megawatts in November 2015.
The power plant receives gas from Accugas, a subsidiary of Seven Energy (now Savannah Energy) based on a 10-year Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, GSPA. The gas is transported from a Gas Processing Facility at Uquo in Esit Eket LGA to a Gas Receiving Facility in Ikot Abasi. Ibom power plant evacuates its output through a 49km, 132kV transmission line from Ikot Abasi to Eket, 132/33kV double circuit substation.
From Eket transmission substation, the power is transported to the transmission substation at Afaha Ube, in Uyo, from Uyo to Itu, and from Itu to the national grid at Alaoji, Abia State.
Engr. Meyen Etukudo has remained company’s Managing Director from 1 August 2016 till date, with Engr. Etido Inyang as Chairman, Board of Directors.
The State government had under the immediate past administration firmed up an agreement with African Delta Power Limited, to add additional 366 megawatts to the existing 191 megawatts of the gas plant.
The new deal will lead to an increase of the aggregate maximum capacity of the gas turbine generator unit to 732 megawatts.
