Mobil acquires licence for 575mw Eket Power plant

The power sector has just received a boost with the issuance of licence to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to build a 575megawatt power station in Eket, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by Head, Public Affairs Department of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Usman Abba Arabi, the licence was issued by the commission after all stipulated requirements were met by the company.

This development brings the number of major oil companies to three that are already playing major roles in the electricity industry in Nigeria.

Recall that the commission, last week issued an Embedded Generation Licence to Yankari Power Company Ltd of Bauchi State to commence a 35mw power generation plant in the state.

However, the two other oil companies, Shell and Agip are already contributing 642 megawatts and 480 megawatts respectively to the national grid.

The commission’s Vice Chairman, Muhammed Lawal Bello, acknowledged the significant stride taken by the company and assured that, “NERC’s mandate is to ensure availability and reliability of electricity.’’

Chairman/Managing Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mark Ward, described the occasion as a momentous one that has been a long time coming and thanked NERC for the spirit of collaboration.

“The project provides a unique opportunity in the sense that there is ready fuel supply and connection to the grid,” he added.