Date Published: 10/22/09

AKSG to partner USA-based Coy to expand Ibom Power Plant

Godswill Akpabio

Akwa Ibom Government has expressed its readiness to partner the Hermes Juns Project Limited based in New Jersey, United States of America in the expansion of the Ibom Power Project.

The State Governor, Chief Godswill O. Akpabio who gave the assurance when the President of the company, Mr Haza Hassan presented a proposal on Ibom Power Plant (IPP) to him at Government House, Uyo, said the project at Ikot Abasi inherited from the last administration is today completed with 191 megawatts.

Before now, the State government had signed an agreement with the seventh energy to locally harness the gas reserves in Akwa Ibom State particularly from its gas reserves.

The company is building their Central Processing Unit for gas and the state government has already deposited $33 million for supply of gas to encourage the company to make the project realizable before December, this year.

The essence, Chief Akpabio explained, is to guarantee a 24-hour supply of power through the Independent Power Plant without waiting for the Nigerian Gas company.

He said the intention of the government is to use Akwa Ibom as a model in Power Supply, noting without power there can be no industrialization, maintaining that Nigeria can show seriousness in industrialization when there is power stability.

The Chairman of Akwa Ibom Industrial, Investment Promotion Council (AKIIPOC) Mr. Nsima Ekere said the state has received tentative approval from the Minister of Power to operate a distribution company where it could generate and control power..

Mr Ekere who is also the Chairman of Ibom Power Company explained that the approval covers the Port Harcourt distribution zone comprising Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

A one-time Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani who was at the presentation said with the development, there was need for the investors to build on the required speed to complete the laudable projects executed by Chief Akpabio.

The President of Hermes Juno Project Limited, Mr. Hassan in a presentation proposal to build 750 megawatts power plant, a hydropower plant and fertilizer plant.

 Hassan assured that the plant would be completed in 18 months at the cost of $245 million.