FG inaugurates committee to revive Aluminium Smelter Company

The Federal Government has inaugurated an 11- member project delivery committee to aid in bringing the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) into full operation.

The Committee comprises three members from ALCON, two from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), two members from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), two members each from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Ministry of Power.

In its terms of reference, the committee is expected to fast-track the connection of 132 kV transmission lines, ensure the completion of the Itu-Aba 132kV line, Itu-Calabar 132kV line, produce a status report and Single Line Diagram (SLD) of the 132k V Line, conduct joint commissioning of 132kV line, including funding requirements.

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In addition to the 132kV project, the committee is also saddled with the connection of 330kV transmission lines to ALSCON by coming up with the funding requirements to complete the project, produce status project report and SLD of the 330k V Line, and conducting a joint commissioning of the project.

Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of the project, which he said would contribute to the economic growth and development of the country.

He said the Federal Government desired to see that ALSCON begin operation.

He charged all the agencies that are involved in revamping the company to work as a team to ensure that it comes alive within a very short time, while urging them to set up a practical working solution.

Adelabu said, “If ALSCON comes back, it would impact the economy of the country very positively, power is a critical enabler for continuous operation in the plant and could lead to economic growth. It will increase local capacity and create jobs for our people. So, we need to accelerate its activities and avoid delays. We need a lot of collaboration and cooperation to achieve this desired result.

“ALSCON had reached out to the ministry on several occasions regarding the importance of reliable, stable, and uninterrupted power at the plant and the need for the plant to be connected to the national grid.”

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In his remarks, Viacheslav Krylov, representative of UC Rusal, the majority shareholder of ALSCON, said the company was ready to work and collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the challenges facing the power sector, especially in the provision of electricity.

He revealed that ALSCON has an in-built 540MW installed, gas-fired turbines for power generation, primarily for operations, he however, added that the excesses would be transferred to the grid.

Krylov emphasised the importance of an alternative power supply on an emergency basis in order to guarantee continuous operation in the plant when the gas supply line is disrupted, thus the need for a grid connection.