Transcorp Power targets 25% generation capacity

Commissions $28.3m gas turbine

As part of its commitment to improve electricity supply in the country, Transcorp Power Limited, a subsidiary of Transcorp Plc, said it plans to generate up to 25 per cent of total power capacity before the end of the 2018.

To boost this objective, the power company has commissioned its 115 megawatt (MW) Gas Turbine 15 at its Ughelli Power Plant. The commissioning of the multi-million dollar turbine brings the total operating capacity of the plant to 620MW.

The Federal Government has been challenged to end the chronic power supply crisis Nigeria had been plunged into for many years, while industry investors are tasked to retool and boost capacity in line with privatisation agreements.

The Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Tony Elumelu, was quoted as reiterating the firm’s resolve to double the generating capacity of the power plant within the shortest time.

He assured that considering the role power plays in the economic and industrial growth of any nation, the company would remain committed to finding a solution to the power problems in Nigeria.

“Our goal is to increase our capacity from 620MW to 850MW with the return of three turbines by the 4th quarter of 2017,” Elumelu was quoted.“Our gratitude goes out to the board of directors, particularly the technical committee, our technical partners, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the federal government of Nigeria for believing in us as private sector investors and for providing the enabling environment,” he added.
 
The Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the relevance of the local investor to the achievement of the country’s energy agenda, cannot be overemphasized.

“The local investor will not run away when there is a storm. They will continue to invest because they believe in Nigeria and their efforts will be supported as much as possible by a government that shares the same belief in the nation,” Fashola was quoted.
 
The Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, commended the Transcorp Power team for the remarkable achievement, while expressing optimism that the firm would continue to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians.
 
First commissioned in January 1990, Gas Turbine 15, a 100MW GE Frame 9E with Mark V Speedtronic controlled unit, made a significant contribution to Nigeria’s generated power for roughly 18 years before it developed major gas turbine blade failure in July of 2008. Due to lack of funding and investment the once productive unit was abandoned for over five years before its rehabilitation.