Audio Attached
NAN-HE-13
Finance
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) says National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) in the country receive government funding promptly.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Chiedu Ugbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that funds have already been made available for the implementation of ongoing projects.
Cue in audio 1 (Ugbo)
“All our generation plants are on course; the government did not stop any funding.
“As a matter of fact, the funding had been previously provided under the Power Emergency Fund and the funding has been utilised to build these power plants.
“We have a lot of interventions in transmission projects; many of them have been completed in terms of transmission lines, transmission sub-stations.
“Transmission 330 KV, 132 KV; substations, 330 to 132 to 33; we have a number of these completed and working now; they have been turned over to the transmission company.’’
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He said although a number of power plants are experiencing insufficient gas supply, NDPHC would remain committed to the completion of all NIPP projects in the country.
Ugbo added that the company is doing its best to ensure adequate supply of gas to the thermal plants in the country.
Cue in audio 2 (Ugbo)
“We met a number of power plants with insufficient gas, but we are also working to ensure adequate supply of gas.
“When you talk about gas, you are talking of the gas infrastructure; you are also talking about the gas molecule.
“For those plants without infrastructure like Calabar, we have been working hard with the company that we signed the gas supply agreement with and that is Aku Gas.
“And Aku Gas has just completed the pipeline route from their gas processing facility to Calabar; it’s awaiting commissioning right now.
“We have gas supply agreement with them for the supply of molecule; so Calabar is almost done in terms of gas supply.’’
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Ugbo said the company was also concluding arrangement with Giga Gas company for the supply of gas to Omotosho power plant, adding that the problem of pipeline infrastructure has been resolved.
On Olorunsogo power plant, the managing director said gas supply to the plant had been disrupted by vandals.
He, however, said that the establishment of two gas supply facilities by NDPHC had improved gas supply.
He attributed the improvement in gas supply to the completion of various plants in the country including the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.
“There is some improvement; presently we have LNG supplying Geregu; we have LNG supplying our power plants in Benin and Sapele.
“The supply at different levels is not adequate.”
Ugbo stated that many private investors are collaborating with the company to develop more gas facilities in the country to accelerate supply of gas to various power plants.
NDPHC is as a limited liability company fully subscribed to by federal, state and local governments.
It has the mandate to manage the NIPPs, an emergency intervention scheme to tackle the nation’s power problem. (NAN)
KC/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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