The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has officially handed over the rehabilitation of its Gbarain Power Plant to a joint venture comprising TILT Energy Limited and Schneider Electric.
NDPHC Head, Corporate Communication and External Relations, Nazo Agim, in a statement on Friday, said the handover ceremony marked a significant milestone in efforts to restore the 225MW facility after a fire destroyed its key control equipment nearly six years ago.
The Gbarain Power Plant, situated in Koroama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, is an open-cycle gas turbine power plant built to accommodate future conversion to a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) configuration.
It is equipped with essential facilities required for the efficient operation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), including generation, transmission, distribution, and natural gas supply sub-sectors.
Fire derailed commissioning
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the NDPHC’s Executive Director, Generation, Abdullahi Kassim, said the Power Control Module (PCM) was destroyed by fire in November 2020, just months before the plant was due for commissioning, describing the incident as a major setback to the project.
Mr Kassim noted that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, is under construction, describing the Gbarain Power Plant as a strategic asset because of its proximity to gas supply.
Also speaking, the NDPHC’s General Manager, Generation Projects, Ginsau Idris, said the PCM was extensively damaged by fire, making its replacement imperative.
He expressed confidence in the contractors, noting that all parties clearly understood their responsibilities and were committed to delivering the project successfully and on schedule.
12-month target set for completion
Managing Director of TILT Energy Limited, Deji Awodeji, assured stakeholders that the joint venture would complete the rehabilitation within, and possibly ahead of, the 12-month project timeline without compromising quality.
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He reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to restoring the plant to operation as quickly as possible.
In her remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, said the project was prioritised after the Gbarain Power Plant was identified as a “low-hanging fruit” capable of delivering a quick boost to electricity generation.
She explained that NDPHC secured the necessary approvals and funding in record time and expressed confidence in the contractors’ capacity to execute the project successfully.
She said replacing the burnt PCM will pave the way for the recommissioning of the 225MW power plant, thereby strengthening electricity supply and supporting the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ceremony concluded with an inspection of ongoing works at the project site by NDPHC management, contractors and other stakeholders.
