NNPC, Egbin Power Plant to deepen gas-to-power, energy supply deals

*The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Egbin Power Plant, in Lagos State, have inked an agreement to deepen gas supply for power deals and gas utilisation in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of the state oil firm’s commitment to gas utilisation in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is partnering with the Egbin Power Plant in Lagos State to deepen the gas supply for power deals.

Engr. Yusuf Usman, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who announced this when he led the NNPC’s team in a facility tour of the plant Monday, June 15 in Lagos, said the NNPC is committed to gas utilisation in Nigeria, Laedership report said.

Usman noted that his is impressed with the turnaround at the thermal power station, which is the biggest in Sub Saharan Africa.

The NNPC COO stated: “The visit has been an eye-opener for me. We have seen turbines that have been running for over 40 years.

“We have seen efforts being made by the Egbin Management to effect a turnaround at the plant through overhaul of the entire system.”

Usman further stated: “We have also seen the support you have been given to the youths through employment and capacity development opportunities.

“I have listened to the concerns you raised, particularly, in the area of transmission restrictions.

“I am aware that works are ongoing in this regards to ensure that all the power we generate is safely evacuated.

“An area of concern to me is when you talked about the gas constraints. We are going to support you to make sure that the power supply is steady. We are having a session with gas suppliers in this regard.”

Report also indicated the development came as Egbin Power declared plan to add 1,900 additional Megawatts (MW) to the Nigeria’s power generation pool for the benefit of electricity consumers.

Temitope Sonubi, Chairman of the company, was said to have disclosed this when the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, led the NNPC’s team on a facility tour of the Egbin Power plant in Lagos.

While disclosing plans for the Egbin (Expansion) Phase 2 Investments, Sonubi maintained that the expansion would add between 1,750MW and 1900MW to the Nigeria’s power generation.

According to him, the Lagos-based power plant has gone through major overhauling, which has helped to increase its generation from the low capacity it had before 2013.

“Egbin has 1,320 MW capacity. As of the time we took over, the plant was generating 300MW which is abysmal 22 percent.

“As of today, our generation capacity has surged and we do 89 percent,” Sonubi noted.

The Chairman of Egbin Power stated: “We have reached the highest peak of 970 MW and we are working hard to ensure sustainability of this feat.

“The 970MW we hit is the highest in the history of the plant and based on our core value of sustainability, we are working round the clock to make sure that we sustain the gains, which we have made.”

How, however, enumerated some operational challenges the company faces to include grid limitation, gas constraints and liquidity.

Stakeholders including the NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have been working tirelessly and collaboratively to solve the issues, Sonubi said.

He urged the NNPC to keep exerting efforts at gas development and supply of the product to keep turbines at Egbin working productively at optimal capacity.

Engr. Usman also pledged the NNPC commitment towards gas optimisation and supply for gas to power.

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