The Federal Government yesterday took steps to reduce challenges of stranded power in the national grid by commissioning the National Independent Power Project 330KV Switching Station in Essien Udim, Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who inaugurated the power station said all Nigerians wanted to hear was not kilovolts (KV) but to see electricity.
According to him, the station would help to evacuate power from Ibom Power plant, Clabar Power, Alaoji Power, and from Afam Power to boost power to Uguaji and support Makurdi that has always recorded low voltage.
He explained that the four power plants have a combined capacity of 1,800 megawatts (Mw) but had been wheeling out between 600Mw and 700Mw.
Fashola said the commissioning of the switch station would reduce the issue of stranded power in the Southeastern region.
“So, when they said stranded, I said can’t it work? But what stranded power rally means is that over the years, we built power plants either without providing the gas so that there is one side of stranded power. There are plants ready to work no fuel,” he said
“The other side of stranded power is where there is gas like here in Akwa Ibom. You have Ibom Power plant with gas ready to go; you have Alaoji with gas ready to go; you have Afam with gas ready to go and you have Calabar power all ready to go,” he added.
