en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has officially handed over the restoration project of the 225MW Gbarain Power Plant in Bayelsa State to a consortium comprising Tilt Energy Limited and Schneider Electric, marking the commencement of recovery efforts after a fire damaged the plant's Power Control Module (PCM).
Nazo Agim, Head of Corporate Communication and External Relations at NDPHC, confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja that the handover was completed on Friday. The core of the restoration work involves replacing the burnt Power Control Module (PCM) at the plant, a critical component indispensable for its operation.
During the handover ceremony, Ginsau Idris, General Manager of Power Generation Projects at NDPHC, noted that the PCM was severely damaged by fire and that replacing it is essential for the plant's final completion. He expressed confidence in the contractor, stating that all parties are clear on their responsibilities and committed to delivering the project on schedule.
Abdullahi Kassim, Executive Director of Power Generation at NDPHC, recalled that the PCM was destroyed by fire in November 2020, just months before the plant was scheduled to begin operations, describing the incident as a major setback for the project. Kassim expressed gratitude to NDPHC's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, for driving the project's revival. He added that auxiliary infrastructure, including access roads and related support buildings, is under construction, and emphasized that the Gbarain plant remains a strategically valuable asset due to its proximity to natural gas supply sources.
Adighije stated that the restoration was prioritized after the Gbarain plant was assessed as a "low-hanging fruit" capable of rapidly boosting power generation. She noted that NDPHC obtained the necessary approvals and funding in record time and expressed confidence in the contractor's ability to successfully execute the project. According to her, replacing the burnt PCM will clear the way for the 225MW plant to become operational, thereby enhancing power supply and supporting the federal government's "Renewed Hope Agenda."
Deji Awodeji, Managing Director of Tilt Energy Limited, assured all parties that the consortium would complete the restoration within the 12-month project timeline, or possibly even earlier, without compromising on quality. He reiterated the partners' commitment to restoring the plant's operations as soon as possible. The handover ceremony concluded with an inspection of ongoing work at the project site by NDPHC management, the contractor, and other stakeholders.
