Joseph Bakare
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has officially commenced the restoration of the 225MW Gbarain National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Bayelsa State, formally handing over the power plant to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Schneider Electric/TILT Energy, for the commencement of rehabilitation works.
The development marks another major milestone in NDPHC’s strategic drive to recover stranded generation assets, increase available generation capacity and strengthen electricity supply to Nigeria’s national grid.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, led the company’s management team in issuing the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and formally handing over the project site to the OEM. She was accompanied by the Executive Director, Generation, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim (FNSE, FCIPE), alongside other senior management officials.
The Gbarain NIPP Plant has remained out of service since November 2020 after a devastating fire severely damaged its Power Control Module (PCM), forcing the shutdown of the 225MW facility before it could be commissioned and consequently reducing available generation capacity on the national grid.
Following the receipt of all statutory approvals and the resolution of technical, contractual and administrative bottlenecks, restoration works have now commenced, with the contractor expected to deliver the project within 12 months.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Engr. Adighije commended the project team for its resilience, dedication and commitment in bringing the project to the execution stage despite years of challenges. She urged the contractor, consultants and all stakeholders to work collaboratively throughout the implementation period, stressing that NDPHC would maintain zero tolerance for delays or project slippages.
According to her, the successful restoration of the Gbarain Plant will further strengthen NDPHC’s efforts to improve generation availability, enhance grid stability and deliver more reliable electricity to Nigerians.
She noted that the project forms part of the company’s broader strategy to maximise existing assets and support the Federal Government’s objective of improving electricity supply across the country.
The Gbarain Power Plant is one of the gas-fired power stations developed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), a Federal Government initiative established to bridge Nigeria’s electricity supply gap through investments in power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Also speaking at the event, NDPHC’s General Manager, Generation Projects, Engr. Ginsau Idris, explained that the Power Control Module was extensively damaged by fire, making its complete replacement unavoidable.
He expressed confidence in the contractors and consultants, stating that all parties fully understood their responsibilities and remained committed to delivering the project successfully and within schedule.
NDPHC’s Executive Director, Generation, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, recalled that the PCM was destroyed by fire in November 2020, just months before the plant was scheduled for commissioning, describing the incident as a significant setback.
He commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for providing the leadership that made the revival of the project possible after years of delay.
Kassim further disclosed that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, is currently under construction, describing the Gbarain Power Plant as a strategic national asset because of its close proximity to abundant gas supply.
Schneider Electric/TILT Energy and its Nigerian technical partner have committed to an accelerated implementation schedule, with the rehabilitation expected to be completed within — and possibly ahead of — the 12-month project timeline.
Managing Director of TILT Energy Limited, Mr. Deji Awodeji, assured stakeholders that the joint venture would deliver the project on schedule without compromising quality, safety or international engineering standards.
Since assuming office, the NDPHC management under Engr. Jennifer Adighije has prioritised the recovery of stranded and underutilised generation assets across the company’s power stations through an aggressive programme of rehabilitation, operational optimisation and strategic investments aimed at increasing available generation capacity and improving operational efficiency.
Upon completion, the restored 225MW Gbarain Power Plant is expected to add significant capacity to the national grid, improve electricity supply, support industrial growth, stimulate economic development and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
The project also aligns with NDPHC’s mandate of maximising returns on investments made under the National Integrated Power Project by restoring dormant generation assets to full commercial operation for the benefit of Nigerians.