FG gives consent approval for construction of hydropower plant in Imo State

Samuel Agbelusi

The Federal Government has approved the construction of a 10 MegaWatts(MWs) hydropower generating plant at Otamiri and Nworie River in Imo state.Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State made this known in a statement obtained by EnergyDay on Monday, on the sideline of the preliminary luncheon for the 62nd Independence Day Thanksgiving Mass, held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Owerri.

According to Governor Uzodimma, the Hydro Power Generating plant at Otamiri and Nworie Rivers is geared toward generating and supplying uninterrupted power supply within Owerri Metropolis and beyond.

The Imo State Governor further stated that following the recent approval for the dredging of the Orashi River into the Atlantic Ocean, the Government has plans to float the Orashi Free Trade Zone for Oil and Gas.

He said, “With an initial $1.5b foreign investment, this will translate to much more than 300,000 job and economic opportunities.”

The Governor, therefore, appealed to the conscience of the people to shun violence and arms bearing as options to address marginalization as the Shared Prosperity Government is addressing such issues.

Dr. Okore Okorafor, Professor Ngozi Okereke, and  Dr. C.C. Egwuonwu, lecturers in the Dr. C.C  Egwuonwu, all from the Department of Agricultural Engineering, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Imo State University, in an academic evaluation of the hydropower potential of Otamiri river for electric power generation recommended that the hydropower system or plant to be used in the area is a runoff river system.

The University Dons in their research said, “This is because there is the very low elevation or head to generate a high amount of energy required to drive the turbine.”

They however concluded that the required power can only be obtained when there is a direct impact of the force or impact of river flow on the blades of the turbine.