21 August 2013, Abuja – The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said on Wednesday that seven power plants and 150 new sub-stations built across the country were ready for inauguration.
This is in furtherance of the establishment of 10 power plants across the country in the National Integrated Power Plants, NIPP, project.
Nebo said this in Abuja when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The minister also announced that the council approved 10.2 million dollars for the procurement of six units of 40MVA 132/33KV Mobile Substations (with spare parts and accessories) to boost electricity supply across the country.
He said an additional N247.3 million was approved for the clearing of the equipment at the port, its transportation and Value Added Tax, VAT.
He said the mobile sub-stations would be used to ensure the continuity of supply of electricity to consumers nationwide during major works at existing substations.
“The reason for the mobile substations is to make sure that whenever we have these repairs on some of these substations that are in the state of disrepair or that need to be entirely changed, we have mobile stations that will stand there that will give respite to electricity consumers located where this major repairs are going to take place. ’So, these mobile substations will act as a reprieve.
“They are also to provide emergency relief where major power disruption occurred, sometimes as a result of disasters occasioned by weather and ultimately they are like spare parts, you can redeploy them whenever the need arises to boost electricity supply.’’
The minister said that 138 direct and 1,380 indirect jobs would be created at the six substations expected to be completed in eight months.
On Wednesday’s deadline for the payment of the remaining 75 per cent of the offer value of bids by the preferred bidders for PHCN successor companies, Nebo expressed the hope that the bidders would meet the deadline as many of them had responded positively as at Tuesday.
‘‘As many of you already are aware, today is the last day for the payment of the 75 percent of the remaining amount of the money owned by the preferred bidders of the GENCOs (Generating Companies) and DISCOs (Distribution Companies) that have been privatised.
‘’And I’m very happy to announce to you that we are getting very positive results that many of these GENCOs and DISCOs are living up to expectations.’’
He said government had no plan to extend the deadline as the company that came second in the bidding process “are waiting desperately to pay’’.
– NAN
