Going by increasing demand for energy, especially by manufacturing industries, public utilities, hotels and residences in the state, Governor Dapo Abiodun is finalising arrangements to partner state-based Independent Power Plants (IPPs) for the uninterrupted power supply to various industrial hubs across the state.
Consequently, the governor is making a concerted effort to establish Ogun State Energy and Electricity Board which will coordinate and integrate all independent power plants operating in the state as part of move to offer embedded power solutions that serve all the areas where energy is needed.
Speaking at the Ogun State Governor’s Dialogue with Business Executives in Abeokuta, the state capital on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun declared that the state government had resolved to work around the enablers and investment promotion mechanisms such as energy, security, roads, among others, to improve ease of doing business in the state.
The governor, who was responding to questions raised by scores of investors at the Governor’s Dialogue with Business Executives, noted that the state would create investment promotion agency that offers a one-shop-stop solution and services for all existing and prospective investors in the state with a view to resolving all issues and challenges that affect production, processing and sales of finished goods as well as economy generally.
He however ordered the relocation of business enquiry and complaint desk as well as headquarters of proposed Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency to the largest industrial hub in the state – the Agbara Industrial Estate for easier access by entrepreneurs and investors to government, adding that: “Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency will be located within OPIC in Agbara, that will save you stress of coming down to Abeokuta.
“We are also establishing Ogun State Energy and Electricity Board which will do energy audit and ascertain where and how energy will be distributed. We are looking at possible partnership with the independent power plants. There must be a public private sector partnership in that regard if we must achieve tangible energy supplies for our manufacturing industries, public utilities and residential areas.”
Responding to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s proposal on possible partnership with independent power plants in the state, a leading operator of independent power plant in the state – Viathan Engineering, that operates Lisabi Power Plant and Compressed Natural Gas Plant under its sister company – Gasco Marine Limited at Onijanganjangan area of Abeokuta on Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, has offered to establish partnership with Ogun state government on power supply to needed areas.
Speaking with BusinessDay through its Chief Executive Officer, Habeeb Alebiosu, Viathan Engineering which operates six power plants in Ogun and Lagos states, said, “For us, we have made our intention very clear from the onset, and before any invitation, we have come to establish 7MW Power Plant already operational.
“We have pretty much floated a gas company already here in Abeokuta. The beauty of what we have established is that they are scalable and expandable. Lisabi Power Plant can go as far as we want, demand is the limit. For demand of 100MW, 200MW, name it, we have the capability.
” And, the way we see it, we are not here to displace the DisCos, we are to complement them, we will partner with them. For us, we think that, for the sector to become what Nigerians hope, we need to build an ecosystem of different players; the gas, the distribution, infrastructure and technical know-how to build the entire value chain. We are ready to make those investments.”
