Lagos Unveils Plan to Generate 3,000MW by 2022
Adopts embedded power initiative
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday unveiled a comprehensive energy security programme for the state, noting that it would lead to the generation of 3,000 megawatts (MW) by 2022.
The governor disclosed that the plan to generate 3,000 MW megawatts in phases would be achieved through embedded power initiative was recommended by the state Embedded Power Technical Committee.
He revealed the plan after the presentation of the report of the Embedded Power Technical Committee set in on August 2016 “to actually solve the power security issue in Nigeria and most especially in Lagos.”
The technical committee included representatives from General Electric, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Shell Gas, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Crisps Capital, Gaslink, Falcon Gas, among others.
Other stakeholders represented in the committee comprised Eko Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Detail Solicitors, Gbolahan Elias & Co, Powertech Limited, Ibile Oil & Gas Corporation, Egbin Power Company, Access Bank, Sparkwest Limited and I-Zap Engineering Services.
After receiving the report of the committee, Ambode explained the overall objective behind the state’s power intervention programme, which he said, was designed to ensure energy security for the state.
He added that the energy security programme would be implemented “to generate up to 3,000 megawatts of power in phases through accelerated deployment of various embedded power plants in strategic locations in the state between three and seven years.”
The governor explained that the initiative was planned that 350 megawatts of the incremental power “will be delivered by first quarter of 2018, additional 850 megawatts by fourth quarter of 2018.”
He said the rest of 1,800mw “will be achieved through the third quarter of 2022. The state government will support the Power Purchase Agreements that will be signed between the distribution companies and the embedded power providers to enhance bankability of the projects.
“The state will distribute the embedded power, off-grid, within Lagos State through the network of Eko and Ikeja distribution companies. We will support the distribution companies in upgrading their distribution infrastructure and installation of smart prepaid meters in the areas where embedded power is deployed.”
The governor, therefore, disclosed the plan “to collaborate with operators of oil blocks in Lagos and its environs to accelerate the extraction of gas feedstocks for power generation.”