Cross River Gets Licence To Generate, Sell Electricity

Cross River State has obtained the Federal Government’s approval for a 21megawatt power plant as the state expects 24-hour power supply from May 29. Governor Ben Ayade during a routine inspection of the facility in Calabar yesterday said: “We have received a license to generate and sell electricity and the certificate is in our possesion and everything is from the regulatory point of view and of course, there is a discussion with the distribution company to reach an agreement on our tariff system.”

Offering further insight on how the state will recoup what it has expended on the project, the governor said, “We have willing buyers and a willing seller’s agreement. That is the option we are going for which will help us to negotiate with the public to agree on what the selling regime would be so we would have a healthy relationship and guarantee them steady power at a reasonable cost.”

“We have a structure that is already running at Obudu where we have 3 megawatts power plant installed in our first year. “Our hope, like you have all heard is to give two megawatts to all the local government areas by 2019. But I assure you that by the end of this year, all the local government headquarters would have alternative power supply.

On the appropriate tariff structure, the governor stated that, “the philosophy is cost reflective tariff and we have to be sensible and sensitive to the people. We just want to be able to have value for money and not over stressed our people.’’

On whether the 21 megawatts plant would be ready by May 29 to mark the administration’s two years in office, the governor said: “We’ve set May 27th as the commissioning date of this power plant and I am happy to announce that a team from South Africa is actually working in Obudu Cattle Ranch to give us renewable energy support system and in combination with what we have here, I have full optimism that on May 29, Calabar will indeed have 24 hours of electricity supply from the 21 megawatts power plant.”

The Project Manager, Mr. Charles Parker assured that work on the 21 megawatts power plant will be delivered as stipulated, saying that 80 per cent of the job has already been executed.

Source: Guardian