NDPHC Moves To Restore 225MW Gbarain Power Plant, Contracts TILT/Schneider Electric
By Sunday Etuka
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has officially handed over the rehabilitation of its Gbarain Power Plant to a joint venture comprising TILT Energy Limited and Schneider Electric for the replacement of the plant’s burnt Power Control Module (PCM), marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore the 225MW facility.
Located in Koroama, Yenagoa, Beyelsa State, Gbarain is one of several National Integrated Power Projects, which have been deemed critical infrastructure in the generation, transmission, distribution and natural gas supply sub-sectors of the electric power value chain.
Gbarain gets natural gas delivered from the nearby Shell Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas Project, although in 2017, Gbarain and its fellow NIPPs suffered a gas shortage and stopped generating electricity, and later, the PCM got burnt.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, NDPHC’s General Manager, Generation Projects, Engr. Ginsau Idris, said the PCM was extensively damaged by fire, making its replacement imperative.
Idris, according to a statement by the NDPHC’s Head of Corporate Communication and External Relations, Nazo Agim,
expressed confidence in the contractors, noting that all parties clearly understood their responsibilities and were committed to delivering the project successfully and within schedule.
NDPHC’s Executive Director, Generation, Engr. 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.
He commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for championing the revival of the project.
Kassim also disclosed that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, is under construction, describing the Gbarain Power Plant as a strategic asset because of its proximity to gas supply.
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.
In her remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, said the project was prioritised after the Gbarain Power Plant was identified as a “low-hanging fruit” capable of delivering a quick boost to electricity generation.
She explained that NDPHC secured the necessary approvals and funding in record time and expressed confidence in the contractors’ capacity to execute the project successfully.
According to her, replacing the burnt PCM will pave the way for the recommissioning of the 225MW power plant, thereby strengthening electricity supply and supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ceremony concluded with an inspection of ongoing works at the project site by NDPHC management, contractors and other stakeholders.
