4,541 Mw from 10 NIPP plants frustrated by gas supply – BPE

The non-availability of gas supply to the 10 thermal power plants has been identified as the bane of the National Independent Power Project (NIPP), in getting 4,541 megawatts of electricity into the national grid, Leadership reports.

Acting Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Vincent Akpotaire, disclosed this at the opening of the investigation into the alleged non-transparent and fraudulent sale of power assets at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, where some aggrieved bidders including Power Grid of India, accused BPE of disqualifying other bidders and appointing Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) under questionable circumstances.

While giving a breakdown of the privatisation of the generation, distribution and transmission segments of the unbundled PHCN assets, Akpotarie disclosed that Nigeria requires a sum of $12 billion to generate 180,000MWs between now and 2030 for the country to break out of the circle of power poverty. He added that, between 2012 to 2014, the sum of $5 billion was spent on self power generation which could have added 5,000MWs to the country’s power requirements.