The Afam VI combined Cycle Power Plant in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Rivers State, achieved a milestone last month as it delivered some 10 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity into the national grid since firing the first electricity supply in 2008.

In a statement last Friday, Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, said this means that the plant has contributed to providing four years worth of 24-hour power supply to about 760,000 residential consumers or 63,000 medium-sized commercial enterprises.

But most significantly, the feat translates to three years worth of 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to host, Rivers State, alone.

The Afam V1 power plant was built by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) Ltd Joint Venture and achieved first power in August 2008 about three years after the contract was awarded.

“Afam V1 is evidence of our strong support for the Federal Government’s power agenda,” said SPDC Managing Director Mutiu Sunmonu. “Since 2008, the plant has continued to impact positively on power generation in the country and we’re looking forward to more years of sustained performance.”

Located at Okoloma village in Oyigbo Local Government Area, the plant has an installed capacity of 650MW and consists of three gas turbines each rated at 150MW, and 1 steam turbine rated at 200MW. The gas turbines were fully commissioned in July 2009, while the steam turbine came on stream in December 2010. The plant receives gas from SPDC’s gas plant also at Okoloma.