The Federal Government has inaugurated an 11- member committee to work towards the full capacity recovery of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).
ALSCON had remained non-operational for 25 years due to lack of reliable electricity and unresolved ownership, with the Federal Government recently expressing determination to resuscitate it for the growth of the nation’s economy.
In October last year, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, visited the complex in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State with the pledge to connect the plant to the national grid.
Chief Adelabu during the working visit to the company, lamented that 37 years after its establishment, lack of alternative electricity supply has hindered the country from benefiting from the huge investment.
He noted that when fully operational, the plant would add 540 megawatts of electricity to the grid while providing direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 15,000 Nigerian professionals and the teeming youth population.
Inaugurating the committee in his office, the Minister of Power, emphasised the importance of the project, which he said would contribute to the economic growth and development of the country.
The Committee comprises three members from ALCON, two from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), two members from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), two members each from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Ministry of Power.
Adelabu stated that it was the desire of the Federal Government to see that ALSCON begins operation.
He charged all the agencies that are involved in revamping the company to work as a team “to ensure that it comes alive within a very short time”, while urging them to set up a practical working solution.
Adelabu said if ALSCON comes back, it would impact the economy of the country very positively,“ power is a critical enabler for continuous operation in the plant and could lead to economic growth. It will increase local capacity and create jobs for our people. So, we need to accelerate its activities and avoid delays. We need a lot of collaboration and cooperation to achieve this desired result”.
Also speaking, the representative of UC Rusal, the majority shareholder of ALSCON, Viacheslav Krylov, said the company was ready to work and collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the challenges facing the power sector especially in the provision of electricity.
He revealed that ALSCON has an in-built 540MW installed, gas-fired turbines for power generation, primarily for operations, he however added that the excesses would be transferred to the grid. Krylov emphasized the importance of an alternative power supply for emergency basis in order to guarantee continuous operation in the plant when the gas supply line is disrupted, thus the need for grid connection.
In its terms of reference, the committee is expected to fast-track the connection of 132 kV transmission lines, ensure the completion of the Itu-Aba 132kV line, Itu-Calabar 132kV line, produce a status report and Single Line Diagram (SLD) of the 132k V Line, conduct joint commissioning of 132kV line, including funding requirements.
In addition to the 132kV project, the committee is also saddled with the connection of 330kV transmission lines to ALSCON by coming up with the funding requirements to complete the project, produce status project report and SLD of the 330k V Line, and conduct a joint commissioning of the project.
