The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, on Thursday said the Maiduguri and Environs Emergency Power Project would be delivered on schedule.
Kyari told the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, and the people of Maiduguri that the project was based on a presidential directive to provide emergency intervention to the electricity supply disruptions facing the area as a result of the incessant activities of insurgents.
He said the project would further improve NNPC’s gas utilisation efforts for the socio-economic benefit of Nigerians.
He was quoted in a statement issued by the oil firm in Abuja as saying, “NNPC as an enabler organisation is committed to the delivery of this project within schedule and has already awarded the contract to General Electric Global for the supply of gas turbine.
“The Engineering, Procurement and Construction has been contracted to China Machinery and Engineering Corporation.”
Maiduguri has been without power supply since January 2021 as a result of the activities of insurgents who had blown up transmission lines on at least two occasions.
In August 2021, NNPC signed an official contract with CMEC and GE on the project.
The corporation stated that the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday signified the official commencement of the project as the contractors had since moved to site.
On his part, Zulum described the groundbreaking ceremony as a huge relief to the people of Maiduguri, who had been without power supply for nine months.
He said NNPC’s commercial investments in the 50MW combined gas power plant would ultimately increase energy supply level to Maiduguri and environs, thereby impacting the state’s economy positively when completed.
He said the Borno State Government would do everything possible to ensure that maximum security of lives and property were guaranteed for the project implementation team and residents of the state.
