Egbin drives Nigeria’s steady power supply by 1,100MW

Gas supply hits 6.1 million scf

The recent improvement in power supply across the country may be driven by sustained generation of Egbin Power Plc, as the nation’s largest power plant hits a record 1,100 Mega Watts (MW) generation.

The generation record may not be unconnected with the improved gas supply to energise the plant, which produces barely one-third of the nation’s total power generation. Also, The Guardian learnt that gas supply to Egbin hits 6.1 million standard cubic feet per day (scf) in July, which showed a significant growth from the supply of about 2.8 million scf in January this year.

According to sources, the trend of gas supply to Egbin indicates that the power plant received 3.5 million scf in January, 2.8 million scf in February, 3.1 million scf in March, 2.8 million scf in April, 2.4 million scf in May, 4.0 million scf in June and 6.1 million scf in July. Egbin’s current generation capacity which hits the 1,100MW mark in July may have contributed significantly to the recent improvement in power supply to homes and businesses in the country. The power plant located in Ikorodu, Lagos, last hit the 1,000MW mark for barely 2 hours about eight years ago.

The Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc, Dallas Peavey, said the sustenance of the capacity was due to the transformation in Egbin, which commenced after its acquisition by Kepco Energy Resource Limited (KERL), in collaboration with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). “Through the injection of close to N50 billion in new capital into Egbin post privatization, the Sahara Power/KEPCO partnership has brought to the power plant, an unprecedented level of innovation, professionalism, human capital development and continuing investment in new technology. “The control room panels, installed at the plant’s inception have been removed and upgraded to state of the art digital panels.

“The highlight of the main plant rehabilitation occurred in the first quarter of 2015, when the company successfully rehabilitated ST Unit 6, bringing an additional 220MW to the national grid and restoring the power plant to its installed capacity of 1320MW,” he said. With these developments, Egbin Power Plc is now equipped to generate power at its installed 1,320MW capacity, whilst the company is exploring expansion in power generation in a few years’ time to 2670MW and possibly, 10000MW in the next decade, if gas supply, transmission expansion and demand permits. Peavey explained that Egbin’s new management has its sights on a clear roadmap for consistent re-tooling and re-positioning of the company to conform to the latest technology and ensure optimal performance.

“In 2014, 107 young Nigerian graduate engineers were recruited into our Graduate Engineering Program (GEP), a fast track manpower and developmental program for high potential individuals. “In the true spirit of national development, the engineers were sent to the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) for a year’s training under the Graduate Skills Development Program.

“They have since graduated and we are excited to receive them back to contribute their quota in strengthening the sector,’’ Peavey added Industry experts say Egbin, the nation’s largest power generation plant has the potential under its new owners to improve on the progress so far recorded if issues bordering on regular gas supply and payments due to the company are sustainably addressed by all stakeholders. Prior to the privatization of the plant in Nov. 2013, Egbin averaged generation of below 500MW due to the dismal state of its six units, with only two of the six units operational at the plant’s lowest point.