Association Blames PHCN Over Power Outage In Rivers

Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) has blamed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for the poor power supply in Rivers State.

State Chairman of LECAN Mr. Friday Kor in a chat with reporters earlier in the week said though the state generates enough power through its gas turbine project, it has been unable to transmit power through PHCN.

Mr. Kor submitted that the problem of power distribution by PHCN has over the years frustrated the state’s gas turbine project.

The body queried why PHCN could not effectively distribute about 100 megawatts generated by the Trans-Amadi gas turbine, noting that local areas like Degema, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Khana, Abonnema and Buguma ought to have electricity with the turbine.

The LECAN boss which frowned at the continuous monopoly of PHCN in power regulation and distribution observed that the situation had not yielded any tangible result because the federal agency do not have the capacity to construct and install electrical lines.

He said giving more powers to PHCN would amount to wasting of public funds and stifling industrial growth.

Mr. Kor argued that because of the shortfalls in the power sector, a lot of companies had resorted to running generators with huge overhead costs, which he stressed was not healthy for the economy.

Challenging the state government to vigorously pursue its independent power policy, the LECAN chairman sought for the reconstruction of a 33KVA and 11 KVA lines within the city metropolis so as to enable power from the Trans-Amadi and Omoku Gas Turbines serve the rural people.

He further called on the state government to site more electricity projects in the rural areas to enable those in the hinterland enjoy electricity.

Before such projects are conducted, he urged the government to consult experts in the sector to give it quality advice on where and when to site them.

So far, Kor observed that the administration of Governor Amaechi is doing well in reversing the power of outage in the state.