Emma Amaize
& Akpokona Omafuaire
13 December 2011, Sweetcrude, EFFURUN – THE Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim has inaugurated a panel of experts and regulators to carefully review the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, draft report on the proposed Delta State Government – owned multi-billion naira Independent Power Plant, IPP, at Oghareki in Ethiope-West Local Government Area.
Mrs. Ibrahim, who was represented by a senior official of the ministry, Mr. Abbas Suleiman commended the state government for the project, saying, “This laudable project will provide a power plant that will complement the existing ones in the country”.
She, however, said in recognition of the dangers posed by major development projects that are likely to have significant environmental effects on the environment, the Federal Government promulgated the EIA Act No. 86 of 1992, which gave the Federal Ministry of Environment powers to regulate, implement, coordinate, monitor and certify environmental permits in the country in collaboration with two other tiers of government (State and Local Government Area).
The minister said it was to ensure that the environment was given due cognizance in the quest for sustainable national growth and development that the ministry constituted the review panel, and not an attempt by the federal government to ‘kill’ developmental projects.
Also speaking, chairman of the panel, Prof. Alex Chinda said following the increasingly rate of the population, such developmental projects should meet the increasingly needs of the people.
Delta State Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Frank Omare represented by Mr. Vwik Onocha said the power plant project would be of immense benefit to the state and federal governments.
Prof. Emmanuel Ukpebor of the University of Benin presented the environmental aspects of the report and the coordinator of the Delta State Power Project, Engr. Patrick Erhagbe presented the technical aspect of the EIA.
The project, which is located at Oghareki started in 2002 and its transmitting lines will run through 25 kilometers.
