By John Johnson, Uyo
General Electric (GE) has proposed to add 480MW to the current 191MW capacity of Ibom power plant using a fast track power technology, Senior Commercial Manager GE, Okpoyo Willie, has said.
Speaking at a meeting with the Board Chairman of Ibom Power Company Limited (IPC), in Akwa Ibom, Willie said the fast track power technology works like a ‘plug and play’ with minimal site work, adding that it is currently being implemented in Afam power plant where 240MW will be added in the next 2 months.
He said the economic impact of the fast track power project in Afam community is the provision of 1000 direct and indirect employment while several other businesses have sprung up in the community.
“GE’s technical team have embarked on inspection tour at Ibom power plant site in Ikot Abasi and discovered that IPC possesses the fundamental requirements for the implementation of the fast track power project. The Ibom power’s landmass is adequate; there is sufficient gas supply from Seven Energy while the evacuation corridor will be the 240MW 132kV double circuit line from Ikot Abasi to Ikot Ekpene via Ekparakwa which is 90% complete,” he said.
He added that part of the 480MW will be evacuated to the national grid while a portion will be reserved to be utilized in Akwa Ibom state based an agreement between Akwa Ibom State Government, NBET and PHEDC.
In his remarks, the Board Chairman of IPC, Engineer Etido Inyang, said the project was coming at a good time considering that IPC’s expansion license will expire in May next year.
The Chairman pointed out that GE initially proposed to add about 240MW to 360MW, but however, the board requested that the capacity should be increased to 480MW to actualize the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel for Akwa Ibom State to be a power hub for the industrialization of the state.
