Low electricity generation in the country may continue for a while, as the Federal Government said Wednesday that gas currently being supplied to the power stations from the vandalized two gas pipelines in the Niger Delta, has been contaminated, thus worsening the situation.
Aside, it said the water level at the hydro power stations in Kainji and Shiroro, Niger State, has also reduced, stressing that low electricity supply would continue to be experienced nationwide.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) however, increased the current massive investment in the energy sector with the approval of award of projects totaling N85.6 billion as part of ongoing efforts to reverse the trend.
Minister of Power and Steel, Senator Liyel Imoke, who disclosed these at the end of the weekly FEC meeting, chaired by President Olusegun Obasanjo, explained that engineers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) still found it difficult to access the sites of the damaged pipelines because of the continued insurgence by armed Ijaw youths that vandalized the facilities.
While assuring that efforts were being made to bring the situation under control, he stated that two firms had already secured the contract to supply Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) to Egbin thermal station in Lagos, even as he apologized to Nigerians for the inconveniences caused them.
His words: “Just to update you on our activities of dealing with the pipeline vandalisation. As of this (Wednesday) morning, we still have not been able to access the vandalized areas of the gas pipeline.
“We now have approval and two companies have been approved to lift LPFO from NNPC depots and they will commence the lifting of the products this week. LPFO will now be supplied to the Egbin power station in barges (by water) for the time being until such a time that we can improve on the facilities.
“We are constrained and we continue to apologise and appeal to Nigerians for understanding. This time the excuses of PHCN are genuine. The circumstances are really beyond the control of the Power Holding Company. Every effort is being made to address the problem.
“The problem is quite complex. Even the gas that is currently being supplied, because of some of these activities, it is being adulterated. In the sense that we are getting condensate into the gas that is currently being supplied. If the condensate gets into the machines, the machines will explode. So, we have a critical problem and we must appeal for understanding.”
Continuing, Senator Imoke revealed, “out of the 1,400 to 1,500 megawatts that is available at Egbin, we could only generate about 700 MW. We also have a problem with one of the units at Egbin, which is currently being looked into. But irrespective of that, until the gas supply problem is addressed we are going to continue to have a considerable reduction in available supply. All the hydro stations and units are running at full capacity. Like I said, we only have three hydro stations and we are exhausting the water at these hydro stations to maintain even the current levels of supply”.
The new contracts, he added, include the construction of Benin-to-Benin north transmission line, N1.1 billion, substation at Erukan, Ogun State, N4.04 billion, Balance of Plant (BoP) for five of the new seven power plants, N50 billion, Onitsha- Nnewi � Ihiala transmission line, N547.6 million and Omoku power station in Rivers State, N15.5 billion.
Others are N275.6 million for the design and procurement of two mobile substations in Ogba- Akure in Ondo State, conversion of Alaoji power station to combined cycle, N12. 3 billion and construction of Ikot Abasi/Itu plant in Akwa Ibom State, N1.9 billion.
The minister said the council also approved the establishment of Inland Container Depots in six cities namely, Kano, Ibadan, Isiala Ngwa, Jos, Bauchi, Funtua and Maiduguri, stressing that the projects, which were private sector- driven and funded, would cost N21. 7 billion ($162 million). Investors are still being sought for the seventh project to be cited in Gombe,
On her part, the Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinwe Obaji stated that five projects totaling N 514.2 million were approved for the National Examinations Council (NECO) headquarters in Minna, Niger State and they include N67.4 million for the construction of the registrar�s office, N70.7 million for a multi-purpose hall while three administrative halls would gulp N356.1 million.
Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State also got N83.5 million for the construction of a complex that would provide accommodation for offices, classrooms and laboratory.
Another highlight of the meeting was the adoption of the report of an inter- ministerial committee on the National Software Development Initiative (NADI), which recommended the patronage of home- made information technology solutions by government ministries and agencies, verification of imported software by the Due Process office, creation of six centers of excellence and setting up of IT departments in some ministries as pilot.
The council, according to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili also endorsed a new National Mining and Mineral Policy document which , among others stipulate global best practices in the sector, participation of the private sector, environmental protection, partnership among the three tiers, participating companies host communities to avoid unnecessary hostilities in the oil sector.
Contracts for the installation of streetlight at 32 intersections, valued at N 326 million were also approved for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a bid to improve security and traffic control in the city. Some of the equipment would be powered by solar panel.
Mar172006