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IPP
IPP: Imoke hails Odili
TONY ITA-ETIM,
PH
POWER and Steel
Minister, Senator Liyel Imoke has hailed the Rivers State Government-owned
Independent Power Project (IPP), saying it would impact positively on remote
areas where the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) would not have
energised in the next 10 years.
The minister also said the state
government would earn additional revenue as NEPA would soon commence paying for
the 30 megawatts of power received from the state-owned gas turbine station at
Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed
between the Federal and Rivers State governments gives 70 per cent of revenue
accruing from the sale of power generated by the station to the state with the
remaining 30 per cent going to NEPA.
Speaking, weekend, in Port Harcourt at a
dinner hosted in the minister’s honour by Gov. Peter Odili, Senator Imoke said
the technology used in the state’s IPP programme would see many more communities
enjoying power supply.
According to him, by the time the Omoku
station comes on stream, the state would be generating 180 megawatts, adding
that even NEPA might not have done better.
These were contained in a statement by
Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Odili, Mr Emma Okoli.
"We are here now celebrating the success
story of Rivers State, and we are still expecting the arrival of the other two
states that started the race with Governor Odili," Senator Imoke said, adding
that "Rivers State has even gone ahead to exceed its target with the 150
megawatts Omoku station nearing completion."
"The beauty of your power project is that
you will reach the remote areas of your state, which NEPA in the next ten years
would not be able to reach whether it is privatized or not" the minister of
Power said.
He observed that the turbine technology
incorporates usage of Marine Cabling and underground water cabling technology to
transport electricity to island communities in the state, a development which he
said NEPA would not have been able to achieve.
"If Rivers people do not appreciate it
today, certainly, history and posterity will vindicate the governor" he said,
adding "for us in the Ministry of Power, we appreciate the magnitute of this
project."
Imoke described Gov Odili as an achiever
by all standards, and a political mentor whose doggedness and commitment to the
power programme saw it to its realization even when people attempted to sabotage
the project.
"It is the first state-owned power plant
that is connected to the national grid," he said.
Earlier, Governor Odili had thanked the
minister for his confidence in the state power project which he said has been
criticised by people who do not mean well for the state.
He said "since October 3, 2002 when the
Trans Amadi Turbine station was commissioned till date, it has been delivering
power to NEPA for transmission to Nigerians, adding that with the PPA signed
recently, NEPA will take all the power generated by the station and pay 70 per
cent of proceeds to Rivers State Government.
"For Rivers State, two things have been
achieved with this" he said, "one of them is service to the people and the other
is returns for wise investment."
Governor Odili said the state is now ready
for industrialisation, as power holds the key to industry and growth.
He, said he was equally pleased that the
third Gas Turbine Station that will generate 150 megawatts of electricity would
be commissioned in a few months’ time, adding that the good news is that the
stations were built by indigenous engineers and contractors.
"People did not believe that Nigerians can
build power stations" he said, adding "with this success story we can say that
there’s nothing that Nigerians want to achieve that they cannot.
"What we need is the political will and
commitment to National interest," he stressed.
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