The Chairman of Sahara Group, owners of Egbin Power Station, Mr Kola Adesina, on Monday said that the company was working towards attaining 10,000 megawatts in 10 years’ time.
Adeshina disclosed this at the 4th graduation ceremony of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) Graduate Skill Development Programme (NGSDP) in Lagos.
He said the company was currently working relentlessly to inject massive investment into transmission and gas supply, to create a smooth value chain for it to operate.
The chairman said that currently Egbin power station installed capacity stood at over 2,200 megawatts, while generation had moved from 220 megawatts to over 1,300 megawatts.
He, however, advised the newly graduated engineers to be more focused and efficient in all their dealings if finally engaged in the system.
“Egbin is working closely with KEPCO to embark on achieving its vision of attaining 2,670MW by 2017 and total capacity of over 10,000 MW in the next decade, if demand permits.
“To ensure that this is achieved, plans have been put in place for continuing capital investments as well as robust human capital development initiatives that will involve exchange programmes and training courses for all cadres of staff in Egbin,’’ he said.
Mr Reuben Okeke, Director General, NAPTIN, said that about 156 engineers graduated from the institute on Monday, adding that they would be employed by various distribution companies to boost power supply in the country.
According to him, “Today, we are witnessing the graduation of a total of 156 engineers comprising 79 distribution engineers, 73 generation and 4 in the transmission cadre.
“Out of this number, 100 have been sponsored by the Sahara Power Group, 45 by the Taraba State Government, 3 by the Yobe State Government while eight are self-sponsored.
“I am proud to announce that of this 156, 122 passed with merit while 33 are in the pass category with just one in the satisfactory completion category.
“l want to say that there are 15 female graduating engineers of which one will shortly be recognised for award of best graduating trainee in the self-sponsored category.
“I have no doubt in declaring unequivocally that all 156 graduating today are fit to work in Nigeria’s power sector,’’ he said.
Okeke said that the institute was committed to the power sector development initiative of the Federal Government.
Mr Godknows Igali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, said that potentially Nigeria could hit 5,000 megawatts but the country was currently generating between 4,600 to 4,700 megawatts.
He said that also depended on the distribution companies which had the capacity to wheel the energy.
Igali said that the ongoing improvement being experienced in the power sector was not due to heavy rain fall but the improvement in power generation supply by the thermal stations.
According to him, government target for the country is to see 24-hour power supply that is constant, because for over 15 years before privitisation of the power sector, there are critical power gap in the sector.
Igali, however, advised the newly graduated engineers to be more focused and determined in moving the power sector, while urging distribution companies to employ them.
NAN reports that Sahara Power Group sponsored 41 engineers on distribution; 59 on generation, while Taraba Government sponsored 31 on distribution, 12 on generation and 2 on transmission. (NAN)
