The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a licence to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to build a 575 megawatt power plant in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
According to NERC, the licence issuance has given Nigeria’s power sector a timely boost, adding that the development would further increase power generation in the country.
The commission, in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Arabi, on Friday, said the license was issued by NERC after all stipulated requirements were met by the company.
The Vice Chairman, NERC, Mr. Muhammed Bello, acknowledged the significant stride taken by the company and assured Mobil that “NERC’s mandate is to ensure availability and reliability of electricity.”
The Chairman/Managing Director, Mobil, Mr. Mark Ward, described the feat as a momentous one and thanked NERC for collaborating with his company.
He was quoted to have said, “The project provides a unique opportunity in the sense that there is ready fuel supply and connection to the grid.”
This development brings the number of major oil companies that are playing major roles in the electricity industry in Nigeria to three.
The two other oil companies, Shell and Agip, are already contributing 642MW and 480MW respectively to the national power grid.
