The joint venture between Oando Plc and NNPC Exploration and Production Limited has begun supplying gas to a 60-megawatt independent power plant (IPP) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, in a move aimed at improving electricity supply in the state.

The company said the NEPL/Oando JV is the sole gas supplier to the plant, delivering about 11.2 million standard cubic feet of gas per day through its Elebele Valve Station, connected to a major trunkline to ensure a steady supply.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who commissioned the project, described it as critical to development, noting that reliable power is key to industrialisation, skills development and economic growth.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, said the project was enabled by reforms in the power sector and would drive economic activity by providing more reliable electricity to homes and businesses.

The 60MW plant is expected to supply power to thousands of households and businesses in Yenagoa and surrounding areas, reducing dependence on self-generation and lowering energy costs.

Designed as an integrated system, the project combines gas supply, embedded generation and a dedicated distribution network located close to demand centres to limit transmission losses and improve voltage stability.

The development comes amid persistent challenges in Nigeria’s centralised grid, including outages linked to vandalism along the Owerri–Ahoada–Yenagoa transmission corridor. The Bayelsa IPP is expected to provide a more resilient, decentralised alternative to grid supply in the area.

The JV also handled the engineering design and connection infrastructure linking the plant to its gas network and provided technical support during commissioning.

The project expands Oando’s footprint in the power sector and aligns with ongoing efforts to deepen gas-to-power infrastructure and decentralised energy solutions in the country.