The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has commenced the rehabilitation of the 225-megawatt Gbarain National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Bayelsa State, handing over the power plant to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Schneider Electric/TILT Energy, to begin restoration work.

The company said the project aims to recover one of its stranded generation assets, increase available generation capacity, and strengthen electricity supply to the national grid.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, led the company’s management in issuing the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and formally handing over the project site to the OEM.
 
The Gbarain NIPP plant has remained idle since November 2020 after fire destroyed its Power Control Module (PCM), forcing the shutdown of the 225MW facility before it could be commissioned.

NDPHC said rehabilitation works commenced after securing statutory approvals and resolving technical, contractual and administrative bottlenecks, with the contractor expected to complete the project within 12 months.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Adighije commended the project team for its resilience in bringing the project to the execution stage after years of delay.

She urged the contractor, consultants, and other stakeholders to work together throughout the implementation period, stressing that NDPHC would maintain “zero tolerance for delays or project slippages.”
 
According to her, the successful restoration of the Gbarain plant will strengthen the company’s efforts to improve generation availability, enhance grid stability, and deliver more reliable electricity to Nigerians.
 
She added that the project forms part of NDPHC’s broader strategy to maximise existing assets and support the Federal Government’s objective of improving electricity supply nationwide.

Also speaking, NDPHC’s General Manager, Generation Projects, Ginsau Idris, said the Power Control Module was extensively damaged by fire, making its complete replacement unavoidable.
 
He expressed confidence that the contractors and consultants understood their responsibilities and would deliver the project on schedule.

NDPHC’s Executive Director, Generation, Abdullahi Kassim, recalled that the PCM was destroyed by fire in November 2020, just months before the plant was scheduled for commissioning, describing the incident as “a significant setback.”

He also disclosed that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, is under construction, and described the Gbarain Power Plant as a strategic national asset due to its proximity to an abundant gas supply.