President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the Phase 1, 504WM simple cycle gas Alaoji power station Abia State with a promise to commission the second phase in no distant time.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the project, President Jonathan said that power was key to development, especially to the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
He stated that the focus of his administration was to support and encourage MSMEs, adding that for them to thrive they needed constant power supply.
President Jonathan thanked Abia State government for working in partnership with the federal government and the Rockson engineering company to realize the project.
Governor Theodore Orji in his speech thanked the President for putting in his vigour to realize the project,especially assisting the state to overcome the menace of kidnapping, which at a time stalled the project.
He told President Jonathan that the state had made available land for the erection of an estate for the staff of the power plant and urged him to assist in erecting the structure.
Governor Orji assured the president that Abia will show him gratitude by voting en- masse for him in Saturday’s election.
In his speech, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo who disclosed that the Alaoji power plant is the 4th out of the 10 plants being built across the country to be commissioned, expressed optimism that the rest will be commissioned before the end of the year.
According to him, the country currently generates 5500 MW of power from the initial 3000 in addition to 300 power projects completed by the Rural Electricity Agency which are ready for commissioning and pointed out that the Alaoji power project will ginger up industrialization as well as create job and wealth.
Also, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd., Mr. James Olotu said that the Alaoji power plant on completion will provide1074 MW of power, adding that the balance of equipment needed for the job will soon be ready.
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