… creates over 150 jobs
Inspite of the wobbling electricity supply in the country, Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) joint venture says it has contributed over 20 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity into the Nigerian grid between its inauguration in 2008 and June 2015.
The plant would have delivered nearly 5 million MWh more, if not for challenges that include gas supply disruptions, crude theft and pipeline vandalism in the same period. With this achievement, the company has become one of the leading contributors to the country’s grid generation.
Aside from providing reliable electricity to the national grid, its operations at Afam VI plant have opened opportunities to Nigerians in terms of jobs, as over 150 locals from the 16 host communities have been engaged on account of the power plant.
The milestone 20 million MWh of electricity is equivalent to 24-hour power supply to over 1 million residential consumers or nearly 180,000 medium-sized commercial enterprises for six years.
It is also worth six years of 24- hour power supply to Port Harcourt city alone.
The power plant was built by the SPDC joint venture and achieved first power in August 2008, about three years after the contract was awarded.
According to Osagie Okunbor, managing director/ country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, “the SPDC JV is pleased to be a reliable partner in the quest for stable power supply in Nigeria.
What is most exciting is that the plant has achieved this milestone while also touching the lives of community people and helping youths to acquire key engineering skills.”
The plant, which is located at Okoloma village in Oyigbo Local Government, Rivers State, has an installed capacity of 650mw and consists of three gas turbines each rated at 150mw, and one steam turbine rated at 200mw.
The gas turbines
were inaugurated in July 2009, while the steam turbine came on stream in December 2010.
The plant receives gas from SPDC’s gas plant, also at Okoloma.
Built on the best technologyintheindustryandutilising waste heat energy in the gas turbine exhaust gas, the additional 200mw from the steam turbine considerably reduces the plant’s carbon footprint.
As a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the United Nations Executive Board for Climate Change, the Afam VI Power Plant eliminated over 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, while also maintaining excellent safety standards.
Aside the over 150 jobs created by the SPDC JV through the Afam VI operations, the integrated energy firm has also provided hands-on and offshore training for 15 youths in electrical, mechanical and instrumentation engineering on Combined Cycle Power Plant operations and maintenance.
OLUSOLA BELLO
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