Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited, INTELS, the port concessionaire in charge of the Onne Port Complex, has raised an alarm that the complex expends a staggering N4.8 billion yearly on diesel to facilitate a constant supply of electricity to the zone.
The zone, which incorporates the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, is made up a total of 150 companies including most of the oil majors as well as five star hotels owned by the Orlean Invest Group.
Head, Administration and General Services unit of the company, Chibuisi Onyebueke, who fielded questions from newsmen in Onne, Rivers State, disclosed that efforts by the company to connect the zone to the national grid over the years have not yielded the desired goals.
According to him, due to the lack of public power supply in the zone, the company uses over 100, 000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil AGO, also called diesel to power the various generating sets that supply constant electricity to the entire facility.
He disclosed that over the years, the company has held series of meetings with relevant government agencies aimed at getting the zone connected to the national grid all to no avail.
The company had believed that connecting the port complex to the national grid would greatly facilitate ease of doing business and also reduce the cost of operation the companies operating in the zone, which would in turn increase profitability and by so doing, enhance government’s revenue.
