NERC issues licence for Agip Okpai II power plant

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday issued a second licence to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to develop the phase II of its 40 megawatts (mw) Okpai power plant in Delta State.

NAOC Managing Director, Mr. Massimo Insulla while receiving the licence at NERC’s office in Abuja that they are committed to developing the phase after the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi urged it to expand its facility.

A statement from the NERC media head, Dr. Usman Arabi said the request from Dr. Amadi was based on the premise that Agip would not have gas supply challenge, being an oil producing company.

Okpai plant started operations on April 1, 2005 and has since being delivering 480mw to the national grid.

As a joint venture investment of the NNPC, Agip, Philips Oil Company Limited, its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed on July 24, 2001 with the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

Insulla while assuring on its readiness to invest said, “We are ready for the second phase. Agip is committed to working in compliance with NERC rules and regulations. We shall work without compromising integrity of the assets and in line with the rules and regulations.”

Issuing the licence to NAOC, Amadi said, “We know Agip can deliver more. You do not have gas problem. We are looking forward to your delivering more power to the national grid.”