Government Restores 450MW to Grid Following Power Fleet Upgrade
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has successfully reinstated 450 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity to Nigeria’s national grid. This enhancement follows the completion of scheduled maintenance at the Geregu National Integrated Power Project in Kogi State.
Maintenance Work Details
The restoration involved a four-week extended minor inspection conducted by Siemens Energy. The main aim was to improve the facility’s reliability and operational efficiency, thereby extending the plant’s Equivalent Operating Hours.
Significant Recovery Efforts
- The recovery at Geregu is part of a broader initiative to revitalize previously dormant assets across NDPHC’s power fleet.
- Jennifer Adighije, the Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, emphasized the importance of these efforts for national electricity generation.
Additional Restorations
In the last twelve months, six gas turbines previously idle have been restored, significantly contributing to the company’s capacity. These include:
- GT4 at Calabar NIPP
- GT1 at Omotosho II
- GT1 and GT2 at Benin NIPP
- GT4 at Sapele NIPP
- GT3 and GT4 at Alaoji NIPP
Once pending gas supply issues are resolved, these restored units will deliver an estimated 875MW to NDPHC’s overall capacity.
Future Projects and Developments
NDPHC is set to commence restoration on the 225MW Gbarain NIPP plant in Bayelsa State, which has been offline since 2020. This project aims to recover additional dormant national power assets and support industrial and commercial initiatives in the Niger Delta.
Operational Breakthroughs
Despite ongoing challenges such as gas supply shortages and grid instability, NDPHC has reported substantial operational and financial advancements, including:
- Recovery of 110 containers containing critical turbine parts, abandoned at Onne Port for over nine years.
- Initiation of the Light Up Nigeria project for stable electricity in the Agbara Industrial Estate.
- Establishment of a 10MW embedded solar plant in Kano.
- Completion of key infrastructure projects in Borno and Delta States.
- Finalization of the Afam–Ikot Ekpene 330kV double-circuit line expansion project.
Financial Successes
NDPHC has also recovered over $10 million from legacy debts, secured $15 million in insurance claims related to the Alaoji plant fire, and is working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to recover investments in the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Enhancements in Management and Accountability
To improve internal operations, NDPHC has implemented several reforms focusing on accountability and staff welfare. These include:
- A procurement benchmarking desk for resource efficiency.
- Computer-based testing for enhanced staff performance evaluation.
- A management support allowance in response to rising fuel subsidy costs.
Commitment to Electricity Supply Stability
Adighije reaffirmed NDPHC’s commitment to restoring dormant capacity and stabilizing operations to achieve a more reliable electricity supply in Nigeria. The company remains focused on transparency and stakeholder engagement to enhance access to electricity for businesses and households nationwide.
As the entity managing Nigeria’s National Integrated Power Project since its establishment in 2005, NDPHC aims to tackle historical underutilization issues caused by gas shortages and financial challenges within the electricity market.
The recent capacity restoration endeavors represent one of the most ambitious recovery efforts by NDPHC in its history.
