Power: Minister Advocates Increase In Gas Utilisation

The Minister of Power,
Chinedu Nebo, has said that an increase in gas utilisation capacity was the only solution for the country’s quest for steady power supply.
He said this at a gathering organised by a firm for the operators of the Nigeria Electricity Market in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
Nebo, promised that his ministry would continue to work with the Ministry of Petroleum inorder to create an enabling environment for private public sectors.
The minister who spoke through his chief-of-staff, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, hinted that 2015 would witness a robust procurement process for coal utilisation in the country.
He revealed that some private investors are already at the centre stage to build collaborations to execute a coal power plant in  the South-eastern part of the country.
He also asserted that the transmission infrastructure needed huge financial power, adding that government alone cannot muster such funds to invest.
While expressing satisfaction over the attitude of power firms, he said the new electricity market would look better in the future.
He, further charged all players in the power sector, not to rest on their oars until the country achieves its vision of steady power supply.
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom State Government, had informed the minister that the state was ready to contribute its quota in an attempt to improve on the country’s power sector.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, who spoke through the chairman of Ibom Power, Barr. Aniedi Akpabio, expressed hope that the company and others operating in the state would ensure that the issue of 24-hour power supply in the country becomes a reality.