The Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, has revealed that the federal government is targeting to generate at least 6000 megawatts of power before the end of the year.
The minister spoke in Calabar when he paid an assessment visit to the Calabar Power Plant of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
He said the government of President Bola Tinubu met less than 3,000 megawatts of output from the power infrastructures last year but has now steadily stepped it up, ensuring that power generation is steadily available.
He said much of this power generation is from the Calabar power generation plant of the Niger Delta Power Holding company.
He stated that the plant, built about 15 years ago with a capacity of 625 megawatts of output, was largely unutilised.
According to him, the plant has five power turbines and each has over 125 megawatts but three are presently generating power optimally for the Southeast and South South parts of the country.
“Two are undergoing turnaround maintenance, which means that it is possible to generate over 500 megawatts from the Calabar power plant alone,” he said.
The minister also avowed that the federal government is consolidating reforms of the power sector.
The aim of the reforms, according to him, is to ensure stability of power supply in all parts of the country.
He disclosed that there has been an increase in energy demands and the government is poised to meet the demands.
While charging the players in the oil and gas sector to be proactive, he said: “The power sector is very critical to both the government and national economy. This is why the president has asked me to visit all the power plants in the country and assess their functionality.
“It is not going to be business as usual. Players in the power sector must be up and about as the federal government is reforming the sector for optimal power generation and distribution in order to meet the huge demands of Nigerians.
“From my assessment, the Calabar Power Plant of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, is the most active. I’m very satisfied. We’re encouraging power installation and generations.”
He further disclosed that the much-talked-about privatisation of the plant to the Cross River State Government is before the Federal Privatization Council and Federal Executive Council.
Cross River’s Commissioner for Power and Energy, Prince Eka Williams said the state government is very ready and capable of taking over and efficiently running the firm, given the expertise available in the firm.
The managing director of the firm, Chiedu Ugbo, said they are presently generating power to most of South South and South East regions of the country.
He stressed a need for more sub-transmission power stations to convey power to most places.
