Gladys Abugoh
11 September 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – NIGERIA’S ongoing multi-billion dollar emergency power intervention project for the additional supply of 4,774 megawatts is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014, managing director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, Mr James Olotu, has said.
The progressive delivery of the additional generation capacity is targeted to be completed by December 2013, with the exception of a few high-tech customised equipments that would spill over to the following year, he said.
Olotu, who disclosed this at the weekend, while commissioning the newly upgraded Ikeja West 330/132KV Substation in Ayobo, Lagos, disclosed that Nigeria has committed about $8billion in the establishment of 10 power stations in pursuit of additional 4,774 megawatts, mw.
He said that four out of the 10 stations have already been completed in Lagos, Delta, Ondo and Ogun States, all contributing about 1,500mw to the national grid. The remaining six power stations which are almost 90% completed and scheduled for commissioning, will generate over 2,500mw, he stated.
Olotu said, “NIPP which is mandated to deliver power nationwide through capacity building and massive rehabilitation/maintenance of existing power plants, is also building hundreds of thousands of kilometers of transmission lines across the nook and crannies of this country, including substations.
“We are also building several thousands of kilometers of distribution lines as well as infrastructure and support substation.”
Lamenting that Nigeria has always suffered from capacity shortages in generation and distribution, the NDPHC boss said his company has also embarked on building gas pipelines that will supply gas to these power stations in order to realize the new generation targets.
Also speaking at the occasion, the General Manager, Distribution, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Lagos, Mr. Oyeleke Adeoye, explained that by upgrading the Ikeja West Substation to 750 MVA with the newly introduced 150 MVA, the station would generate additional 25 percent power.
He added that this improvement is already seen in the Lagos area and that the increased capacity of the Substation will not only serve the whole of Lagos, but also parts of Ogun state up to Abeokuta.
