[size=14pt]We Will Deliver NIPP on Schedule[/size]

FG: We Will Deliver NIPP on Schedule
From Ike Abonyi in Abuja, 06.08.2010

The Presidency has assured Nigerians that the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) which is critical to the generation of power would be delivered on schedule.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo who spoke on the issue yesterday said although there are other sources that would contribute to steady power supply, the government is determined to make the NIPP work.
He stated the government's mind in a chat with State House Correspondents in Abuja yesterday.
"We are not going to bandy figures at this level but what we are saying is that we will deliver NIPP on schedule as already agreed and which I am sure all of you know," the veepee said.

"We cannot also say if the contribution will be in percentage time because we know also that it is not only NIPP that is going to bring in power, there are also other sources which will bring in power but the NIPP will deliver power on its own part" he added.
Sambo who chaired his first meeting of the presidential committee on NIPP at the Presidential Villa on Monday, had earlier informed stakeholders that the administration would not relent on its determination to solve the country's power problem.
The "NIPP programme has a schedule that I am sure you are aware of, the projects are not coming all coming up at the same time. I think the programme has been issued earlier and what we are saying is that we are satisfied with the progress. We believe that the project will be deliver on schedule," said Sambo.
The vice-president summoned contractors and others involved in the NIPP project to secure their commitment to achieving the target date for completion.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya said the experience of the vice-president who had been a member of the committee as governor of Kaduna State came handy at the parley.
The power minister who declined to give the current electricity generation level in the country stated that "we are managing the challenges in a better manner, so we are bound to have better results now. It is an ongoing process."
Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni told reporters after the meeting that the entire NIPP scheme including gas supply, security of installations and contractors as well as compensation to affected communities was reviewed.

Oni also confirmed the administration’s plan to decentralize electricity generation so that each plant will deliver electricity to its immediate locality, in order to avoid waste and extra cost of linking to the national distribution system.
The decentralization policy is expected to reduce a situation whereby large parts of the country experience blackouts whenever a single power plant suffers breakdown.

[size=14pt]Jonathan Orders Power Sector Reforms Fast-tracked[/size]

• PHCN’s power generation hits 3,760mw • UAE firm plans 230mw power station
From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 06.07.2010

Ministry of Power yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan, has directed it  to commence full implementation of the  Power sector Reform  Act  in order to create room for private sector participation and efficient service delivery to Nigerians.
The president's charge came just as the average national power generation by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) hovered at 3,760 megawatts (Mw) with an off-peak of 3,250mw as at last Friday,

THISDAY checks gathered that Shell Afam is yet to come up fully, contributing 345mw against expected 650mw. Some units in Kainji and Shiroro hydro power stations are down thereby drawing down on available generation capacity.
Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Somo Wya in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Yakubu Lawal yesterday, said the President has given the ministry a fresh  mandate to fast-track the reform process and  break all barriers that would prevent private sector players coming to invest in the sector.

The statement quoted the minister as having said at the weekend while receiving a group of foreign investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE),  who made presentation on their planned participation in the sector,  said the mandate is to the effect that the Electric Power  Sector Reform (EPSR) Act of 2005 be fully implemented.  "President has given  mandate to commence the reform process and  break all barriers that would prevent private sector players coming to invest in the sector".

“I have clear  mandate of Mr. President   to break all bottlenecks  to private investor’s participation in the power sector .We are ready to encourage you and we will create the enabling environment for you to actively invest in the sector. Our doors are open to all genuine investors ”he said.
Wya explained that  that based on the President's directives, the Ministry will be commencing full reform of the sector in order to encourage the inflow of the much needed investment for the sector.


The partial implementation of this Act before now had  led to the establishment of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory  Commission (NERC) and unbundling of Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) into 18 successor companies as follows,Generation-6,Transmission-1 and Distribution-11 respectively

According to Wya, it has become obvious  that government alone cannot provide the required  investment that would drive the sector for the benefit of all Nigerians,  adding that  government is open to anybody who has the resources and ready to invest in the sector to come on board.
Wya explained that though most of the power stations in the country are thermal or gas  fired based,  Nigeria still needs more   thermal or gas powered plants  adding that  investors  could easily diversify into other alternative  power generation  opportunities that exist in the country.

The minister directed the officials of the visiting firm-Energy Trading Group FZC of UAE to meet with the relevant agencies within the Power sector for proper guidelines for investing in the sector urging them to also look at the model on  Power Purchase Agreement(PPA) developed by NERC with a view to help them design a  sound business plan that will conform with the practice in Nigeria.

He also asked them to meet with NERC officials with a  view to obtaining the guidelines for licensing companies that want to operate or do business in the sector noting that relevant committees within the Ministry  of Power  directly concern  with issues on Independent Power Projects (IPP) would  also be able to help them fast tract their investment plans in line with the existing guidelines.

The Director of Business Development of ETG, Mr.Mike McCafferty,  in his Presentation, said ETG Power is seeking to establish an Independent Power Project with a frame 9 Power plant in simple cycle operation as phase 1 of the project to be delivered within 12 months to commercial operations.

He explained that that  phase 2  of the project will incorporate combine cycle operation and  that the  commissioning of phase II  can be delivered within   twelve months after commercial operation of phase I, which he said could give 230Megawatts(MW) of electricity to Nigerians.
He said the company has over 33 years of working experience in both Power  as well as  oil and gas industry across major continent of the world.

OAM4J:

^^^The answer to that question worths $1,000,000,000
It is a top secret, only Jonathan and his cabal know
Kobo, I know you dont like the title 'cabal'

oyb:

if we will not remeber her political career for anything else, we will remebr dora for introducing the word cabal to the nigerian lexicon