Date Published: 12/15/09

Akpabio calls for deregulation of gas sector

Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has called on the Federal Government to deregulate the gas sector to enable interested companies to harness abundant gas reserve for stable electricity supply in the Country.

Akpabio who made the call yesterday when the Minister of Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Uyo noted that inadequate gas supply to Independent Power Plant could stifle Federal Government’s effort in meeting the power supply needs of Nigerians.

According to him, “We recognize the inadequacy of Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) to supply gas to all companies in the Country. We were proactive by entering into an agreement with Seventh Energy which is a guarantee form to harness the abundant gas reserves in the state and deposited $33 million with the company”.

The Governor noted the effort would help IPP in the state to epileptic power supply to electricity consumers and appealed to Ministry of Power to key on this vision in order to meet the 6000 megawatts target of President Yar’Adua’s administration.

He also appealed to the ministry to include Ibom Power Plant in the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of the Federal Government, adding “Let Ibom Power Plant be the first to sign agreement with PPA”.

“Now that we have energized our IPP line starting from Eket, I want you to use us as a nucleus in signing PPA. We are ready to offload our remaining megawatts to your power line to boost the National grid”, Akpabio stated.

Governor Akpabio thanked the minister for living up the Federal Government’s promise of providing 6000 megawatts to Nigerians, pointing out the state government had to work hard to actualize the promise.

“We are at the verge of contributing our quota to power supply. Let us use two states to see how we can achieve stable power supply in the Country. The beginning of Nigeria’s progress would begin with steady power supply”, he maintained.

 Dr. Babalola commended the state government in executing IPP to complement the Federal Government’s effort in meeting the electricity consumption of the people.

Babalola observed that since Eket line has been energized the second turbine would be energized too to enable other people to also enjoy stable power supply in the state and beyond.

He disclosed that work is on-going in Delta and Afam Power Plant and hoped that any challenge posed in an effort to have stable power supply would be resolved.