The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has said that it has embarked on the construction of 10 power generation plants to improve on the volume of electricity being generated in the country.

The General Manager, Environment and Community Relations of NDPHC, Eze Odigbo, disclosed this at the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Workshop of the Akurba 330/132KV Substation Project in Lafia, Nasarawa State recently.

Odigbo, who was represented at the workshop by a deputy director in the department, Olajide Olubunmi, explained that out of the 10 power generation plants embarked upon by the company, eight have been completed, while the remaining two were under construction.

He however explained to the audience that the reason why the 10 power generation plants embarked upon by NDPHC were all sited in the southern part of the country was because of the availability of gas in the southern part of the country which is at the moment not found in the north.

He stated that the company has also constructed 121 transmission/substations across the country, even as he added that the NDPHC has as well carried out 291 projects for the distribution of the energy generated to consumers with one of the projects sited in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

In a paper presented at the workshop by the Manager, Transmission of the company, Umar Abubakar Modibbo, he said that the Lafia substation, which is 95% completed, would be capable of supplying 23 hours of electricity to Lafia metropolis and its environs when inaugurated.

He said: “NDPHC has installed nine transformers in the Lafia substation to convert the energy transmitted to it for onward transmission to consumers.”

Modibo enumerated some benefits derivable by the state from the Akurba substation to include rapid growth in the socio-economic activities by way of attracting foreign investors who will in turn create jobs which will eventually change the standard of living of residents in the state.

Further, the NDPHC said that it has concluded plans to boost power supply in Nasarawa state in the first quarter of next year when the Lafia 330/132kv substation project which is at 95 percent completion is commissioned

Manager in charge of the project Engineer Umar Abubakar Modibbo stated this during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping workshop of the proposed Lafia 330/132/33kv substation.

He said that the project, which is located in Akurba, Lafia, Nasarawa State is to be fed from the existing 33kv DC Makurdi -Jos transmission line which passes through Lafia.

He further explained that all the major works on the substation will be completed on the December 23, and that by first quarter of 2020 the people of Lafia and its environs will start enjoying 24 hours power supply.

“In addition, it will bolster power supply to border communities of neighboring states such as Northern Benue, Southeastern Kaduna as well as Southern Plateau state,” he said.

Stating the benefits of the project to community leaders, he said the 330kv substation will bring about rapid socioeconomic growth and environmental development as the cost of production of goods and services will drastically reduce in the absence of generators.

“Attraction of foreign investors, establishment of facilities and small scale businesses and job opportunities among others,” he said were additional benefits to the scheme.

He gave a breakdown of some of the auxiliary power projects handled by NDPHC to include 121 transmission project which spans across the country and are divided into 49 lines project and 72 substations, adding that the project routes power from the generating stations to the national grid.

Speaking earlier, the General Manager, NDPHC Environmental Community Relations, Mr Eze Odigbo, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Olajide Olubunmi, said the EIA will take 18 months to be completed in order to assess the risks involved in the project.

He said that the NDPHC is intervening in places where electricity supply has been deficient in recent years.

He further explained that the 330/132/33kv substation in Lafia would significantly help transform the state into an economic hub with the improved supply of electricity.

The interactive workshop was attended by traditional rulers, youths leader and other stakeholders of the Akurba community.