Yemisi Izuora
For the first time since inception, Nigeria’s largest generation plant, Egbin Power Plc is generating consistently above 1000MW.
The development was made possible after significant investment and upgrade activities on the plant by the Sahara Power Group and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
Eight years ago, the plant hit the 1000mw mark for barely two hours and never attained it again until now.
Prior to the privatization of the plant in November 2013, Egbin averaged generation of below 500mw due to the dismal state of its six units. At its lowest point, only two of the six units were operational.
Chairman, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina said the feat signposts the unfolding success of the privatization process and power sector reform in Nigeria.
Adesina attributed the achievement partly to the direct intervention of the federal government in its determination to resolve the power crisis which has resulted in recent improvement in gas supply.
“This is driving the increase in power supply in the nation, boosting socio-economic development. Prior to this, we had invested heavily and had the plant ready to generate power at full capacity but there was no gas to do so. This is indeed a good development for the power sector in Nigeria,” he said.
According to Dallas Peavey, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, the transformation in Egbin commenced following its acquisition by Kepco Energy Resource Limited (KERL), in collaboration with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
“Through the injection of close to N50 billion in new capital into Egbin post privatization, the Sahara Power/KEPCO partnership has brought to the power plant, an unprecedented level of innovativeness, professionalism, human capital development and continuing investment in new technology.
The control room panels, installed at the plant’s inception have been removed and upgraded to state of the art digital panels. The highlight of the main plant rehabilitation occurred in the first quarter of 2015, when the company successfully rehabilitated ST Unit 6 bringing an additional 220mw to the national grid and restoring the power plant to its installed capacity of 1320mw,” he said.
Peavey noted that upon taking over the plant, the new management brought in a new lease of life to all the stakeholders in Egbin with a clear roadmap for consistent retooling and repositioning of the company to conform to the latest technology and ensure optimal performance.
“In 2014, 107 young Nigerian graduate engineers where recruited into our Graduate Engineering Program (GEP), a fast track manpower and developmental program for high potential individuals.
In the true spirit of national development, the engineers where sent to the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) for a years training under the Graduate Skills Development Program. They will all be graduating this week, on Friday 3rd July, and we are excited to receiving them back to contribute their quota in strengthening the sector.”
“With these developments, Egbin is now equipped to generate power at its installed 1320mw capacity and we remain committed to sustaining the performance of the plant as we prepare to explore the prospects of expansion for enhanced power generation.
We are already envisioning a future of 2670mw in a few years’ time and even go beyond to 10000mw in the next decade, if gas supply, transmission expansion and demand permits,” he added.
Commending the Federal Government for recent interventions in the gas situation that has impacted power generation positively, the company’s Chairman called for more dynamic policies and incentives for sustainable gas supply across the nation.
“We must thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their personal involvement and proactive approach to resolving the gas situation for the power sector.
We believe that far reaching consultations and incentives will birth robust policies that will transform gas production in Nigeria.
We are confident that the current administration will deliver on this so that the nation can begin to take full advantage of the work we have done in Egbin as well as other improvements across the sector,” Adesina stated.
He pledged that the company would sustain its continuing capital investments and robust human capital development initiatives which include exchange programmes and training courses for all cadres of staff.