FG approves fund to revive Egbin power plant

Determined to improve power generation and supply in Nigeria, Federal government has approved fund for the total-over-hauling of unit six of Egbin Power Station.Minister of Power, Prof. Bert Nnaji, made this known while fielding questions from journalists. He told the journalists that the Federal Government had kept the promise it made of funding the revival of the unit six of the power plant which had been down for years.The intervention measures, according to him, would translate to improve electricity supply to homes and businesses in the country in line with aspiration of the present administration to achieve a short term target of 5000 megawatts (MW) by December.The Power Minister disclosed that the Federal Government was currently recovering some power station and plants in the country to generate at optimal capacity, adding that on before now the country generation was hovering between 3,000 megawatts to 3,200 megawatts, but presently the country generate 4,300 megawatts while 300 megawatts.He said: 'When I make promises I ensure I accomplished it. We have approved and given the money to rehabilitate unit six at Egbin Power station. When completed the station will generate to its full capacity, this is part of the federal government initiative in ensuring effective power supply in the country.'Egbin Power Station, which generates about 30 percent of the total electricity volume available on the national transmission and distribution networks, had requested for N1.5 billion to recover decrepit system six of the plant and recover full capacity of 1320 megawatts.The Chief Executive Officer of the 27-year old plant, which currently operates at 80 per cent installed capacity due outage of its moribund sixth unit, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe, confirmed that the fund had been released for repair the unit six.Speaking on huge debts owe by government agencies to all PHCN distribution zone, Nnaji said that the Ministry of Power would work with the Chief Executive Officers of all PHCN electricity distribution zones to recovers the debt.He, however, said that gas had been the major challenges of some of the power station, stating that the Federal Government was planning to channel a gas pipeline that would link Olorunsogo power plant.
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