NNPC puts Maiduguri EPP on fast track
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has declared plans to expedite realization of its emergency power project (EPP) in Maiduguri as model for similar projects in the country.
Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, who performed the ground breaking ceremony for the project alongside Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, said speedy execution of the project has been directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to restore electricity supply to the areas in the northeast of the country where insurgents vandalized power facilities.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari explained that the project was as a result of a Presidential directive to provide emergency intervention to the electricity supply disruptions facing Maiduguri and environs as a result of incessant activities of insurgents.
Mallam Kyari assured that the project would be delivered on schedule to improve NNPC’s gas utilization efforts for the socio-economic benefit of Nigerians, saying that key contracts on the project have been awarded to two foreign companies for speedy delivery.
“NNPC as an enabler organization is committed to the delivery of this project within schedule, and has already awarded the contract to General Electric Global (GE) for the supply of Gas Turbine, while Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) has been contracted to China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC),” Kyari stated.
Maiduguri has been without power supply since January 2021 as a result of the activities of insurgents who have blown up transmission lines on at least two occasions.
In August 2021, the NNPC signed an official contract with the CMEC and GE on the project. The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the official commencement of the project as the contractors have since moved to site.
The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, who hosted Mallam Kyari, described the groundbreaking ceremony of the EPP as a huge relief to the people of Maiduguri, who he said have been without power supply for nine months.
According to the Governor, NNPC’s commercial investments in the 50 megawatts (MW) combined gas power plant will ultimately increase energy supply level to Maiduguri and environs, thereby impacting the state’s economy positively, when completed.
He pledged that the Borno State Government would do everything possible to ensure that maximum security of lives and property are guaranteed for the project implementation team and residents of the state.
“I assure you that as government, we will provide the much-needed security to ensure that this high pressure-scheduled project is completed on cost, scope and quality,” Governor Zulum added.
