Pacific Energy, Chinese Firm To Build N4b Coal Power Plant

Pacific Energy Limited says it has entered into partnership with a Chinese firm, Sepco 111,  to construct a 1,200 megawatts (MW) coal power plant worth $4 billion in Benue State.

The Chairman of Pacific Energy, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the Sepco-Pacific Electric Power Training Centre in Olorunsogo, Ogun State, recently.

He said the two firms have concluded plans on project, which he described as a major milestone in achieving the aspiration of the Federal Government in the power sector.

Sepco111 also built and is managing the Olorunsogo Power Plant Phase 2, which is superintended by the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and with a capacity to generate 750mw.

The Chinese Consular-General, Dr. Liu Xianfa, said the volume of trade between his country and Africa rose from $10 billion in 2000 to $166.3 billion in 2011, while the trade volume between China and Nigeria stood at $10.8 billion at end of 2011. Promising to take the Sino-Nigerian partnership to a new level,  he added that he would bring in more Chinese companies to aid Nigeria in fixing its power sector.

The Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr James Olotu, lauded Sepco111 for its commitment to improving power supply in Nigeria.

He said the company has four gas turbines that have been inaugurated with a capacity to deliver 500mw into the grid, but are being hindered by lack of gas.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, said the government wants to diversify electricity power generation sources and intends to build three coal power plants in Enugu, Benue and Kogi states.

By Henry Ojelu