A’Ibom to set up gas power plant at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat

Ilenre Irele

The Akwa Ibom State government says plans have reached advance stage to set up a central gas-driven power plant to supply electricity at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat complex.

The move is anticipated to put an end to avalanche of generators at the secretariat which has been source of excessive carbon emissions.

The one thousand kilowatts power plant, already at advanced stage of completion and tie-in to the Secretariat power line, is expected to provide cleaner, cheaper and constant 24/7 electricity within the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat before the end of May 2024.

The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, made this known to journalists after the inspection tour of the Power Station, expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the contractor to deliver on the project, affirming that the state government’s pursuit for a shift in energy source was in line with current global trends in gaining carbon credit against climate change and pollution.

He said, “I am extremely satisfied with the things we have seen at the power Station that will provide power within the Secretariat, using gas.

“Of course, you know that is where the world is going right now. I am happy with what the contractor is doing. Few things are left, and we should be able to get it started. In the next two to three weeks.”

On the power station project, the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camilus Umoh, said the gas-fired combined one megawatt capacity plant will provide a cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable 24/7 power to the state government secretariat.

He was emphatic that the new central gas power supply facility would phase out the proliferation of small petrol-and diesel-powered generators, with their associated carbon emissions and unpleasant outlook.

He explained that the use of the plant in the State Secretariat is a pilot project to affirm its workability as a recommendable power facility for clustered government or industrial establishments, attesting to its reliability, compliance with international standards and protocol.

To ensure availability of gas to fuel the plant, Engr. Umoh said provisions have been made for Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, to be lifted from nearest gas depot and be transported to the IPP site at about 200 bar pressured gas canisters and be fed to the generators in a controlled atmospheric pressure, affirming that safety procedures, including blast-resistant walls, are in place to ensure safe operation of the plant.

The Governor who also undertook inspection of the state government-owned Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, DASAC, at Ikot Ada-Idem, the low-cost housing estates in Ibiaku Ikpedip and Ikot Ukpong, all in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, announced that the Skills Acquisition Centre will commence training on May 20, 2024.

Taking a tour of the hostels, carpentry, products manufacturing and other departments including the snail farm, poultry, piggery and other facilities for agricultural-based production, among other components of the facility, Governor Eno affirmed his satisfaction with the state of completion, lauding the Ministry of Education and the project consultants for the clear interpretation of government’s vision to avail the state with a world class vocational training center.

“Like I said during my campaign, everything the previous administration has done, we will take to a logical conclusion. This is one of the legacies of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration. The courage, the guts he had to do this, we must ensure not to let it die, no, it cannot die! Posterity will not forgive us.

“With all of the things Government has done here already, I believe Akwa Ibom is ready to train skilled manpower for the rest of the world. I am pleased about what I am seeing here”, the governor said.

He assured of the capacity of the institution to be self-sustaining, clarifying that the state government will only need to kickstart the center with the necessary funding, while the institution gears up and generates enough income to sustain itself and not be dependent on government for funding.

At the low cost housing estate for civil servants, Governor Eno blamed the delay in completion and opening of the estate on lack of access road, a situation which, he said, his administration was currently addressing with the construction of Ring Road 3 Extension.