Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has finalised arrangements with Independent Power Energy Limited of America and their financiers, Deutsch Bank of Germany, to commence work on a new 100 mega watts gas turbine at Imiringi.
Government has equally concluded plans to upgrade the existing gas turbine plant at Imiringi to generate 114 mega watts.
The generated energy from the new gas turbine, to be completed in one year, will add to the existing one and bring the totally generated power to 214 megawatts to boost electricity supply as well as meet the power needs of the state.
The new power plant project is to be executed under a Private Public Partnership agreement between the American company and the state government.
When completed, part of the power generated will be sold to the national grid and generate income for the state and the investing company for a year after its commissioning.
The project is in line with Dickson’s promise to develop critical infrastructure that will create the enabling environment for foreign and local investments to thrive in the state.
To honour its part of the agreement, the Independent Power Plant Energy Limited has assured that it would deliver the new turbine with the latest technology within stipulated time.
President of the company, Ian Duff, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen shortly after a meeting between top officials of the state government and the company at Bayelsa House, Abuja.
Duff, who led a high powered delegation to the meeting comprising officials of IPP Energy Ltd and Deutsch Bank of Germany, said they were encouraged to invest in Bayelsa State because of the favourable reports they had received about ongoing developments in the state in the past couple of years.
He affirmed that standards would not be compromised in the construction of the plant, stressing that the company was ready to build a first class independent gas power plant, which will be comparable to any other one in the world.
Duff announced plans by the company to employ Nigerians, especially Bayelsans, who would also be trained with the latest technological skills of gas turbine operations and maintenance.
As part of the company’s social responsibility, Duff said a clinic will also be set up to take care of the health needs of workers and indigenes of the host communities.
Also present at the meeting were Bayelsa State Commissioner for Energy, Hon. Francis Ikio, Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Hon. Ayakeme Masa, Commissioner for Special Projects, Hon. Fred Obua, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Lawrence Ewhrudiakpo, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investments, Mr. Cyril Akika.
