From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said that the power to be generated and distributed from the state’s independent power plant will not be free.
Diri, who provided an update on the project on Wednesday while on an inspection tour of the gas turbine site at Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area, clarified that Bayelsans will pay for the service.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
Accompanied by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, chairman of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Solomon Agwana, the Commissioner for Power, Kharin Komuko, and other government officials, the Bayelsa governor told journalists that people of the state were upbeat about the prospect of 24-hour power supply by the end of this year.
He explained that consumption would be metered and paid for as the government had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jampur Group for establishing a customised metering production plant in the state.
He said: “I had given the end of this year as a deadline for this project, and we are sticking to that. Hopefully, before Christmas, we will have these turbines fired up, and by God’s grace, Bayelsa will begin to have 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply.
“We are actually expecting eight gas turbines, but six have arrived, and I have been assured that the remaining two, with some accessories, will be here next week. These are the most modern gas turbines.
“Initially, we planned to have two very large plants, but later, the experts advised that there could be a blackout if one of them breaks down. So, I had to approve the eight.
“As you know, to maintain this equipment and the gas to fire them, even though it is on our soil, we will spend money to procure it from the company. So, it is not free. For there to be constant electricity, everybody must pay for it. It is pay as you consume.”
The Commissioner for Power, Mr Kharin Komuko, who also spoke, described the project as a dream come true for the ASSURED Prosperity administration.
He said when the governor first spoke about it, there was open cynicism by critics of the government, and he thanked him for making good his promise.
Also, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Electricity Company, Engr Olice Kemenanabo, who explained the role of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in the state’s IPP project, said the Electricity Act had grey areas that were interwoven to ensure that all legacy distribution companies were carried along.
Kemenanabo said the state and PHEDC were working together to avoid any legal tussle between the franchise owners and the distribution network.
He further stated that the PHEDC existing network, which has over four hundred transformers in the state, would be utilised for power distribution.
Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, technical partners to the state electricity company, the Project Manager, Mr Sharif Abu, described the gas turbine project as very crucial and sensitive, noting that the precise schedule for completion would be met.
The post Bayelsa: Power from IPP won’t be free, says Diri appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
