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| Representatives Urge Shettima to Convene Niger Delta Power Holding Company Board's Emergency Session |
Hon. Oforji, who introduced the motion, described the Gbarain Power Plant as an open cycle gas turbine facility designed for future upgrades to a combined cycle gas turbine system.
The House of Representatives has urged Vice President Kashim Shettima to convene an emergency session to address the immediate revitalization of the Gbarain Power Plant in Bayelsa State, aiming to improve the national grid's efficiency.
Shettima also serves as the Chairman of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Board.
This call to action came after the House adopted a motion during a plenary session on Thursday, presented by Hon. Oboku Oforji.
Furthermore, the House has requested the presence of NDPHC's Managing Director, Mr. Joseph Ugbo, before its Power Committee to discuss the current condition of the Gbarain Power Plant.
Hon. Oforji, who introduced the motion, described the Gbarain Power Plant as an open cycle gas turbine facility designed for future upgrades to a combined cycle gas turbine system.
He highlighted that the plant is a functioning power station with a capacity of at least 252 megawatts, situated in Koroama, Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
He mentioned that the NDPHC's Power Control Module at the Gbarain Power Plant was destroyed in a fire.
The representative also noted that the Bayelsa State Government has stepped forward to assume some of NDPHC's duties, especially since the state's Niger Delta University relies on the station for electricity.
He pointed out that the state government has also initiated the repair and restoration of electricity through the 60MVA, 132/33KV power transformer, which now supplies power to the Gbarain Power Station's auxiliaries and the surrounding communities via the 2×15 MVA 33/11KV injection substation, previously non-operational before this intervention.
Oforji expressed concern that instead of reviving the power plant, which was constructed with $400 million and is currently valued at over $800 million, NDPHC's management is considering reclassifying the 252MW Open Cycle Power Station as a construction site, neglecting its core duty of operating it for the benefit of the state, the Niger Delta, and the nation.
He questioned NDPHC's capability to manage the power plant, which could potentially become the nation's largest due to its strategic location near gas sources, stating that the Gbarain Power Station could easily supply electricity to the entire Niger Delta region and beyond.
Additionally, he mentioned that the Shell Petroleum Development Company has allocated over 60MMsc of gas to the plant, which remains unused because of the company's operational challenges.
