Eni, partners build 10MW power plant in Bayelsa for NCDMB, gets presidential nod
A10 MEGAWATTS POWER plant built by Eni companies in Nigeria, along with its partners, Oando Energy, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC/NAPIMS), for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to power its headquarters in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, received presidential nod recently when it was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Apart from the NCDMB headquarters, it will also power other major government and industrial facilities in the state.
A statement issued by Eni and sent to Business A.M. said the power project, acknowledged as a giant leap in the journey towards the development of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry, is an initiative of Eni companies in Nigeria and its partners.
“The power plant aims to enhance the capacity of NCDMB and other government infrastructures in the state, kick-start sustainable industrialization, create employment opportunities and generally improve the standard of living through reliable supply of electricity,” the company stated.
According to the statement, the project activity include the provision of 10MW GE gas engine generator power pack units (including all associated ancillaries) and installation of overhead transmission lines and balance of plant for the evacuation of power to end users in the state.
Lorenzo Fiorillo, managing director of Eni Companies in Nigeria, speaking on the occasion of the commissioning, explained that “this initiative is part of Eni’s global effort to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all – one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations in its 2030 Agenda, which are an integral part of the Company’s mission.”
The ceremony, conducted virtually from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, was witnessed by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva minister of state for petroleum resources, Mele Kyari group managing director of NNPC, and other top management of NCDMB led by Simbi Kesiye Wabote, the executive secretary.
Eni has been supporting access to energy in Nigeria by implementing projects and initiatives targeted at alleviating power deficit and achieving reliable power supply in the country. This include the 480MW Okpai power plant, built in 2005 by NAOC JV, currently being expanded to 1000MW as well as supply of free electricity to over 120 communities in Niger Delta, with about one million population.