Power generation in the nation has received a major boost following the rehabilitation of Egbin Power Plc on ST-06, a 220MW Steam Turbine Generator, after eight years during which the turbine remained inoperable.
This brings the plant back to its installed capacity of 1,320MW.
Disclosing this in Lagos, the management of the company said the rehabilitated and restored Unit ST-06 brings an additional 220MW to the national grid and would also bolster power supply to the Lagos Metropolis, giving a lift to business and social activities in the region.
ST-06 which was first commissioned in November 1987 suffered a boiler explosion during operation in 2006 due to water tube malfunction.
With the unit now generating at full steam, Egbin is currently in the final stages of a bilateral agreement to supply the 220MW to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc (Ikeja Electric) and Eko Distribution Company, a development that is set to yield about 16% additional power supply to Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve center.
Read also: Egbin power plant to increase capacity to 2,670mw in four years
The transformation at the nation’s largest generation plant commenced following its acquisition by Sahara Power, working through a number of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) in collaboration with its technical partners, Korea Electric Corporation (KEPCO).
The Sahara Power/KEPCO partnership has brought to Egbin, an unprecedented level of innovativeness, professionalism, human capital development and continuing investment in new technology, the statement observed.
Mike Uzoigwe, Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc said the company considers the rehabilitation of ST Unit 6 to be a major breakthrough, noting that huge resources were deployed into achieving a complete tear down overhaul of the unit.
Uzoigwe said inspite of the fact that the electricity market in Nigeria is not yet bankable, Egbin has in collaboration with KEPCO, continued to achieve laudable feats for the benefit of the country. He added that KEPCO has begun the overhaul of unit ST-04 as Egbin continues its quest to ensure Egbin operates in compliance with globally acclaimed standards.
“When we took over Egbin Power Plant in November 2013 there was a sworn declaration to deploy all of our available resources required to transform the plant into a centre of excellence.We are happy that this is being achieved through the expertise of our staff and KEPCO and we are delighted to say we are on course towards achieving our object of being a foremost power generation plant in Africa,” he said.
According to Gyoo Yeom, representative of KEPCO, the unfolding plan for Egbin is aimed at replicating the success KEPCO is renowned for in the global power sector, in Nigeria. Yeom said Egbin has in its sights “further expansion of the plant, as the new management continues to embark on achieving its vision of attaining 2, 670 megawatts (MW) by 2017 and total capacity of over 10, 000mw in the next decade, if the demand permits.”
Appealing for support as the reforms in the sector unfold, he added: “We are here to work with our partners in Egbin to ensure we build a future where uninterrupted and sustainable power supply is obtainable in Nigeria.”
Ongoing exchange programmes to Korea aimed at growing local capacity for Egbin staff have since commenced, as the company seeks to enhance its human capital capacity for enhanced performance.
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