NNPC, Egbin Power Strengthen Gas-To-Power Deal As Production Hits 970MW

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Egbin Power Plc have pledged to deepen collaboration to ensure the success of the Federal Government’s gas-to-power program.

The Chief Operating Officer, Gas, NNPC, Yusuf Usman, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, pledged during a facility visit of the NNPC team to the power plant on Monday in Lagos.

Usman said the NNPC was committed to deepening gas utilization in Nigeria, adding that the company's turn of the thermal power station was very impressive.

He said there was a need to ensure an undisrupted supply of gas to Egbin Power Plant, which was the biggest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Usman said: “This visit has been an eye-opener for me. We have seen turbines that have been running for over 40 years. We have seen efforts being made by Egbin management to effect a turnaround at the plant through an overhaul of the entire system.

“We have also seen the support you have been giving to the youth through employment and capacity development opportunities.

“I have listened to the concerns you raised, particularly, in the area of transmission restrictions. I am aware that works are ongoing in this regard to ensure that all the power we generate is safely evacuated.

“An area of concern to me is when you talked about the gas constraints. We are going to support you to make sure that the power supply is steady. We are having a session with gas suppliers in this regard.”

Earlier, Shonubi said the Egbin Power Plc under, its Phase Two investment expansion plan, would add between 1,750MW and 1,900MW to Nigeria’s power generation pool.

Shonubi said the plant had gone through major overhauling which had helped increase its generation from its low capacity before 2013.

He said: “Egbin has 1,320 MW capacity. As at the time we took over, the plant was generating 300MW which is an abysmal 22 percent. As of today, our generation capacity has surged and we do 89 percent.

“We have reached the highest peak of 970 MW and we are working hard to ensure the sustainability of this feat. The 970MW we hit is the highest in the history of the plant and based on our core value of sustainability.

"We are working round the clock to make sure that we sustain the gains we have made.”

Shonubi listed the challenges being faced by the company to include grid limitation, gas constraints, and liquidity.

He, however, said stakeholders including the NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria were working tirelessly to solve the issues.

Shonubi appealed to the NNPC to sustain its effort towards gas development and supply of the product to keep turbines at Egbin working productively at optimal capacity. (NAN)