Power generation in the country would soon received an additional 150 megawatts increased as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Thursday performed the ground-breaking ceremony of a new power plant worth about $250 million by a private power firm, Proton Energy Limited.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project in Sapele area of the state, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Chairman of Proton Energy Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi said the project would be funded through direct foreign investment and would be completed by 2020.
Ikomi stated about 1000 workers would be employed during the construction stage which he said would take two years and urged the federal government to diversify the nation’s economy through more investments in power to drive the country’s industrialization and business growth.
He said, “Proton Energy welcomes you today to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of Proton Delta Sunrise right here in Sapele, Delta State. The most important reason is to celebrate the work done and the commitment shown to this project by the key stakeholders. Without them we won’t have attain this milestone.
“This project will attract close to $250 million but this is direct foreign investment. This will assist with the industrialization, business and job growth in our country, Delta State and particularly here in Sapele where up to 100 jobs will be utilized during the construction period starting from next year.
“I just want to emphasize for the purpose of our partners like Siemens that the money they are committing to this project is the first time they supporting such project in Sub-Sahara Africa. They have never done it so it is a commitment to Delta State ably led by Governor Okowa and the Orodje of Okpe.
“The agenda of the governor to bring prosperity to Deltans is being supported by this project. The agenda to develop industrial cluster through electricity to development to enable more electricity in this country is well supported.”
Ikomi suggested that for the country to witness rapid growth in electricity generation there was an urgent need by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the ministry of power to review tariff prices to a more realistic manner that would encourage investors into the sector.
“As we go forward, this country will be able to improve on its power generation of 5,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts and easily to 100,000meagwatts. We need to diversify our national economy with more investments in power.
“I now want to specially mention the key points to sustain the Nigerian electricity industry. Firstly, there has to be an electricity tariff review NERC for a sustainable longtime plan with an acceptable price with the consumers and the people producing. We are not suggesting that prices should go up radically but if you want to enjoy power, we all have to enable the investment.
“Secondly, we are asking for a policy review by the ministry of power and NERC to reenergize power sector investment with specific bias for action and project implementation. We expect that construction will take two years”, he added.
In his remark, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue 1, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) assured the investors that the people of Sapele (Okpe Kingdom) would provide the enabling environment for the construction of the power plant.
Orhue 1, however, appealed to the power firm to ensure that the local content law was strictly followed and kick the company promises to employ both skilled and unskilled workers from the host communities in the interest of peace.
The traditional ruler also used the opportunity to call on the governors of the South-South to unite and speak with one voice to enable oil multinationals in the Niger Delta region to move their operational base to their area of operation in the region.