Power generation in the nation has received a major boost following the rehabilitation programme of Egbin Power Plc on ST-06, a 220MW Steam Turbine Generator after eight years during which the turbine remained inoperable.
This brings the plant back to its installed capacity of 1,320MW.
Disclosing the development in Lagos, the management of the company said the rehabilitated and restored Unit ST-06 brings an additional 220MW to the Nigerian National Electricity Grid and would also bolster power supply to the Lagos Metropolis, thereby improving socio-economic activities in the region.
ST-06 was first commissioned in November 1987.
It suffered a boiler explosion during operation in 2006 due to some water tube phenomenon.
With the unit now generating at full stream, Egbin is currently in the final stages of a bilateral agreement to supply the 220MW to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc and Eko Distribution Company, a development that is set to yield about 16 per cent additional power supply to Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve centre.
The transformation at the nation’s largest generation plant commenced following its acquisition by Sahara Power, working through a number of Special Purpose Vehicles in collaboration with its technical partners, Korea Electric Corporation.
The Sahara Power/KEPCO partnership has birthed in Egbin an unprecedented level of innovativeness, professionalism, human capital development and continuing investment in new technology.
The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power Plc, Engineer Mike Uzoigwe, said the company considers the rehabilitation of ST Unit 6 to be a major breakthrough, noting that huge resources were deployed into achieving a complete tear down overhaul of the unit.
Uzoigwe noted that in spite of the fact that the electricity market in Nigeria is not yet bankable, Egbin has in collaboration with KEPCO continued to achieve laudable feats for the benefit of this country.
He added that KEPCO had begun the overhaul of unit ST-04 as Egbin continues its quest to ensure Egbin operates in compliance with globally acclaimed standards.
He said: “When we took over Egbin Power Plant in November 2013 there was a sworn declaration to deploy all of our available resources required to transform the plant into a centre of excellence.
“We are happy that this is being achieved through the expertise of our staff and KEPCO and we are delighted to say we are on course towards achieving our object of being a foremost power generation plant in Africa.”
According to KEPCO’s Gyoo Yeom, the unfolding plan for Egbin is aimed at replicating the success the company is renowned for in the global power sector in Nigeria.
Yeom said Egbin has in its sights on “further expansion of the plant as the new management continues to embark on achieving its vision of attaining 2,670 megawatts by 2017 and total capacity of over 10,000mw in the next decade, if the demand permits.”
Appealing for support as the reforms in the sector unfold, he added: “We are here to work with our partners in Egbin to ensure we build a future where uninterrupted and sustainable power supply is obtainable in Nigeria.”
Ongoing exchange programmes to Korea aimed at growing local capacity for Egbin staff have since commenced as the company seeks to enhance its human capital capacity for enhanced performance.
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