Senate urges TCN to ensure adequate electricity supply to Delta North

By Iyojo Ameh, Abuja

The Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) , to step-down electricity generated by the Okpai Independent Power Plant in Delta North for usage by Communities in the area .

It also mandated its Committee on Power to carry out an investigation and equally take action to resolve the delay in the distribution of 100 megawatts of electricity to communities in Delta North Senatorial District.

The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Need to address the unexplained delay in Electricity Step-Down of Okpai Independent Power Plant” by Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North

Nwoko in his lead debate said Nigeria has 23 Power Generating Plants, also known as Independent Power Plants (IPPs), that are interconnected with the National Grid.

The plants according to him, have a combined capacity to generate 11,165.4 megawatts of electricity, one of which is
the Okpai Independent Power Plant, situated in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State.

He historically informed the Senate that in April 2005, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, commissioned the Okpai Independent Power Plant and ordered the immediate implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the plant.

“This included the provision of 50 megawatts of electricity to benefit the host communities within a 50-kilometer radius from the plant;

He added that Okpai Independent Power Plant has been upgraded to provide a functional 930 megawatts of electricity with another order and understanding to increase the power supply to host communities from 50 megawatts to 100 megawatts.

He said : ” To enhance its electricity supply, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) awarded a contract worth approximately 4.2 Billion Naira in 2021 for the construction of a 132KV Double Circuit Transmission Line.

“However, to date, there have been unexplained delays in executing the contract project;

“Despite the presidential pronouncement in 2005 and the upgrade of the Okpai Plant to 930 megawatts, the people of Ndokwa nation and the entire Delta North Senatorial District continue to lag seriously behind in the supply of electricity.

“This is the case even though the Okpai Plant hosts several oil companies in its vicinity, including Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Energia Limited, Mid-western Oil and Gas Limited, Pillar Oil Limited, Chorus Energy Limited, and more”.

Senators in their contributions supported the motion and voted to adopt its prayers when they were put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.