Festus Ahon
08 August 2012, Sweetcrude, UGHELLI—DELTA State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Mr. Charles Emetulu, says the government was working to ensure adequate distribution and transmission of power in the state upon the deregulation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
Emetulu made the disclosure while inspecting the 132 KVA Double Circuit Transmission Lines from Ughelli to Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area and the 7.5 MVA Injection Transformer Sub-station at Ovwor Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Station 33KV Relay Panel Transformer in Ughelli.
But, he frowned at the belief by some people in the state that his ministry was now Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
He said: “We are doing most of the work Federal Government should have done as both traditional rulers, community leaders, landlords and PHCN staff come to us with their complaints and want us to do something for them.
“It is now so bad that people think the ministry is now PHCN, because we solve all power problems. I assure you that if and when PHCN is properly deregulated, the state will really hold power, distribute and transmit it as it deems fit.”
The commissioner stated that upon completion and switch-on, the substation under work will “be in the control of PHCN to do what they intend to do,” noting that the substation will serve “both Ughelli South and North while the transmission lines taking 132 KV high tensions, 30 kilometres and 110 Towers is meant to get to Ogwashi-Uku.”
Noting that 25 or more towers would be added on the transmission line within the month, he said; “ordinarily, the transmission line projects costs about N1.3 billion, depending on the number of transformers while the substation project cost between N170 and N200 million. There are two others in Isoko and Ndokwa areas to be built this year.”
