Lagos power plant attains 85 per cent capacity utilisation
Upgrading gulps N46 billion
The operator of Egbin power plant in Lagos State, KEPCO Energy Resource Limited (KERL), has injected N46 billion in the facility since it took over in November 2013, pushing the plant’s capacity utilisation to 85 per cent.
The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power Plc, Dallas M. Peavey Jr, disclosed this yesterday, while receiving the officials of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) who were on a monitoring visit to the enterprise at Egbin.
Peavey Jr explained that the expenditure profile has bolstered the operational efficiency of the plant, raising its capacity utilisation from 50 per cent to 85 per cent.
He however listed inadequate gas supply, non-payment or delayed payment of proceeds of power sales with an outstanding cumulative balance for 10 months amounting to over N40 billion; delay in disbursement of CBN intervention fund for legacy debt, among others, as the challenges facing the company.
He stated that the power plant, which currently generates an average of 1,100MW recently, had its first major maintenance in 30 years, with a total overhaul of units 4, 5 and 1, allowing these units to peak at its 220MWs each at its installed capacity.
Peavey said that the power plant, which hitherto was operating less than 50 per cent capacity prior to its takeover, is now operating at over 85 per cent with the fixing of unit-06, which was not operational for eight years.
He revealed that preliminary work had commenced for the building of an extra 1,350MW combined cycle plant.
The MD/CEO stated that 107 graduate engineers have been employed and are currently being trained for a year to progressively replace the aging population of the workforce.
Besides, he said several initiatives had been embarked upon to reposition the plant for greater efficiency. These include major overhaul of the demineralisation plant which was achieved by the recovery of Train B; and the replacement of turbine vibration monitoring systems, which assist in regulating the speed of the turbine in the event of vibration to avoid a catastrophic failure.
Others are the renovation of the administrative building to a world-class work environment and construction of a simulator room to aid in training of operators and upgrade of Distribution Control System (DCS) for units 4, 5 and 1 to the latest modern technology, as part of the achievements of the company since takeover.
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1 Comments
Fantastic!!!
We will review and take appropriate action.