Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has hinted that the state was targeting a combined generation capacity of about 600MW electricity between now and next year 2022.
This is as the governor has promised a quick completion of the 27MW Adiabo Power Plant at the Tinapa Business Resort, as part of effort to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.
Ayade who spoke while inspecting the level of work done at the power plant, said the idea is to ensure that MSMEs in the state have opportunity to have electricity and grow the local economy.
He said the cumulative effect of the power projects was that Cross River State and Calabar in particular, will be the first state capital that will run on 24hours electricity without failing
“We have 27MW here with a potential to install another 27MW which gives us a combined cycle that can bring in a third. When we get to that capacity, we will be in a position to feed the national grid.
“We are considering bringing in a third party investor who will be the operator of this plant, having been installed by the main contractor, Skipperseil Group. And we are happy to announce to Nigerians that Cross River State is getting another power plant of 27MW, the one in Parliamentary Road is 23MW.
“The contractors are looking to complete this project by April next year. But I am back tracking it to December this year because my people have to have electricity in greater Calabar. But of course once the plant in Odukpani starts running, this one (Tinapa) runs and the one in Parliamentary runs, we will be having a combined capacity of almost 600MW generated within Calabar.
“It therefore means that we have to set up a state transmission line that will share power to the rest of the state all the way to the Northern Senatorial District, particularly the Obudu Cattle Ranch where we are currently doing a 3MW hydro power plant in combination with the wind system.
“So I am focusing on energy as a way of liberating our people from the horrifying dependence on the very difficult national grid. And I am proud to say that a Cross Riverian is the Minister of State for Power and he is working aggressively, supporting us to see to the realization of all these power projects.”
Expressing delight at the multiplier effects of the project, Ayade noted that the project was coming also at a time that the state was pushing for metropolitan fibre optic line to power homes with smart wifi connectivity at a negligible cost.
“So the catalytic combination of subsidized power alongside with the wifi services will give Calabar the 21st century exposure we dream about and that’s where we are.
“We are at 80percent installation capacity. We just have few containers we are expecting to arrive shortly. By the close of the month, we should be done with all imports and focus on the 8inch gas pipeline.
“We already have the modular scrobars installed, so we will just tap into the Savannah energy pipeline and circuit it into the system and properly socket just like we have socketed into the centre. We will socket into the electricity value chain and bring value to Cross Riverians.”
