‘Enugu Coal Plant’ ll Generate 1,000 Megawatts’

The proposed Coal Plant soon to be built in Enugu State by the Federal Government would generate 1,000 megawatts of power for the country before the end of this year.

The Minister of Energy, Prof. Barth Nnaji, who made this known at the Power Summit in Enugu last Friday, said that Federal Government took the decision taking into consideration the need to generate power from the abandoned large coal deposit in the state.

According to him, the best economies in the world were generating power from coal, pointing out that it was time Nigeria revived its coal production, which he said the country mined and used for production and power generation many years ago.

The minister revealed that government was currently undergoing a three-dimensional study, saying, “Once the three-dimensional study is completed, we would commence work on the coal plant project in Enugu State”.

Continuing, Professor Nnaji further said: “The Federal Government is now determined to build one of its coal plant in the country here in Enugu State and it would generate 1,000 megawatts of power for the country. Enugu State is very important to the country’s development, especially in the power sector. This was where the country mined coal and used it for production and power generation many years back”.

He, therefore, reasoned that if the best economies have been able to sustain their power generation through coal, then “we are ready to do that now and even surpass their achievements.”

Nnaji noted that the problem of inefficient power supply existed because there were not multiple sources for power generation, pointing out that “Once we develop coal, then we would have solved part of the problem of power in the country.”

Speaking specifically to the stakeholders at the summit, Professor Nnaji said: “You all are going to be major players for power evacuation in the country. New Haven and Ugwuaji areas in Enugu State are already famous grounds. You could imagine the power that will come from Ugwuaji and will be evacuated to Northern Nigeria and which will also go to New Haven. Then from New Haven, it will go to Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Onitsha in Anambra State, Owerri in Imo State, and of course to Oji River Power Station in Enugu State.”

Enugu, he went on, “is a major pond for power evacuation. Once we have 1,000 power pond constructed, we would have realized our goals for the power sector.”

Supporting professor Nnaji’s views, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Chris Ngige, called on Federal Government to build a gas fire plant as the easiest and quickest way to solve power problems in the country.

His words: “If we have plant as source of gas, it would only be a matter of fact to commence producing power. At Ugwuoba in Enugu State and Oba in Anambra State, there is gas. The raw materials abound there, let us see what we can do with it.”

State governments, he said, should seat up, adding that Oji River plant mentality is still hanging on everybody in the power sector.

He, however, criticised the Enugu State government for not appointing a Commissioner for Energy, pointing out that the project would require a Commissioner for Environment to monitor  it.