Firm to Set Up 10megawatts Power Station in Benue State

The Benue State Government has signed an agreement with Contec Global Energy Limited, CONTEC Global, to build a 10 megawatts gas-based power station in the state.

The power plant, the first of its kind in the region, will generate and supply electricity to the Benue Industrial Estate located in Makurdi, the state’s capital.

A press release by the Public Relations Officer, CONTEC Global, Uchenna Okeke, yesterday in Abuja said at a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom, his Deputy, Benson Abounu and members of his cabinet, the firm offered an initial proposal to establish a 2mw power station which was later upgraded to 10mw by a six-member committee set up by the governor for effective coverage of the industrial estate.

CONTEC’s Project Manager (Energy),  Sashi Mozumder, who gave details of the project, said the gas-based power generation project to be established in the state is to commence in 180 days after all preliminary paper and administrative works on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are completed.

Meanwhile, the government has provided a five hectares land space for the power station.

Mozumder said: “We are currently working on the initial MoU, pre-feasibility study, benefit-cost analysis among other preliminary preparations towards the commencement of the project, which is scheduled to commence within 180 days.

“With this, we shall be able to deliver the first electricity to the estate in the next 12 months.”

He also disclosed that CONTEC has acquired the requisite approval from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to this effect.