By Barbara Nwaiwu
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has handed over the rehabilitation of the 225-megawatt (MW) Gbarain Power Plant in Bayelsa State to a joint venture comprising TILT Energy Limited and Schneider Electric, marking the start of efforts to restore the facility after a fire damaged its Power Control Module (PCM).
The handover took place on Friday, according to a statement issued in Abuja by the Head of Corporate Communication and External Relations, NDPHC, Mr. Nazo Agim. The rehabilitation project involves replacing the plant’s burnt PCM, a critical component required for the facility to commence operations.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, NDPHC General Manager, Generation Projects, Mr. Ginsau Idris, said the PCM had been extensively damaged by fire, making its replacement essential to the completion of the power plant.
He expressed confidence in the contractors, saying all parties understood their responsibilities and were committed to delivering the project within schedule.
NDPHC Executive Director, Generation, Mr. Abdullahi Kassim, recalled that the PCM was destroyed by fire in November 2020, just months before the plant was due for commissioning, describing the incident as a major setback to the project.
Kassim commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Ms. Jennifer Adighije, for driving the revival of the project. He added that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, was under construction, noting that the Gbarain Power Plant remained a strategic asset because of its proximity to gas supply.
Adighije said the rehabilitation was prioritised after the Gbarain Power Plant was identified as a “low-hanging fruit” capable of delivering a quick boost to electricity generation.
She said NDPHC secured the required approvals and funding in record time and expressed confidence in the contractors’ ability to execute the project successfully.
According to her, replacing the burnt PCM will pave the way for the inauguration of the 225MW power plant, strengthening electricity supply and supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Managing Director of TILT Energy Limited, Mr. Deji Awodeji, assured stakeholders that the joint venture would complete the rehabilitation within, and possibly ahead of, the 12-month project timeline without compromising quality.
He reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to restoring the plant to operation as quickly as possible.
The handover ceremony concluded with an inspection of ongoing works at the project site by NDPHC management, contractors and other stakeholders.
