NDPHC to boost power generation by 300MW

The Federal Government, through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has embarked on a project that will improve power supply by additional 300MW to the national grid.

It however decried a situation whereby the available power will not get to the end-users or final consumers.

In one of such projects, NDPHC is already collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State to find lasting solution to the challenges of stranded power and ensure that such stranded power gets to the final consumers.

According to the Managing Director, NDPHC, Chiedu Ugbo: “We have electricity to serve Nigerians but it is stranded either at power stations or transmission stations like this one we are, because there are few challenges (which are) why people are not being serviced and the Discos cannot pick the load from here.

“We are collaborating seriously with the Lagos State government to make sure that this available electricity gets to the end-users.”

NDPHC said the project, which includes construction of 132Kv Multi Circuit Transmission Lines, is facing the problem of Way Leave, which means a right of way to be granted by landowners to erect the transmission lines.

The project has been on but the company has serious Way Leave challenges.

NDPHC has enlisted the support of Lagos State Government and also Ogun State Government and they actively trying to assist us to resolve the challenges along the line routes.

According to the company during its site visit, “Lagos State Government has a programme and they need to see availability of energy here and ascertain that they can actually take the energy here and make sure it gets to the consumers in Lagos State. After the site visit, the commissioner has seen and he is convinced that energy here is stranded as a matter of fact because as we have seen that we have seven feeders going out of here that should have taken at least 100MW, but the feeders between the two distribution companies (Ibadan and Ikeja Discos) are doing less than 30MW.

The company also made it known that it has contacted Ikeja Disco to ascertain the challenges they have while working with Lagos State Government to see how they will be resolved.

We have seven feeders with four going to Akute, New Iju, Yidi and Lambe, all under Ikeja Electric. They all go to Ikeja Electric injection substations where it is further distributed to the end-users at 11kV lines.

As part of its visit NDPHC boss asserted, “Under Ibadan Disco, we have Ibafo, which services The Redeemed Camp, Magboro and its environs. There are Dangote and Ijoko lines too. We are also here to ensure that they (Discos) are picking load.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Lere Odusote, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, commended the management of NDPHC for its interventions in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State and assured that the government will do all in its power to resolve the Way Leave challenge.