The Egbin Power Station is poised to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity in the next ten years according to Sahara Group.
Speaking in Lagos during at the 4th graduation ceremony of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) graduate Skill Development Programme (NGSDP), the chairman of Sahara group, owners of the power plant, Mr Kola Adeshina stated that the company is currently working relentlessly to inject massive investment into transmission and gas supply, to create a smooth value chain for it to operate.
He said that currently Egbin power station installed capacity stood at over 2,200 megawatts, while generation has moved from 220 megawatts met to over 1,300 megawatts.
He however advised the newly graduated engineers to be more focused and efficiency in all there dealing when their finally engaged into the system.
“Egbin is working closely with KEPCO to embark on achieving its vision of attaining 2,670MW by 2017 and total capacity of over 10,000MW in the next decade, if demand permits.
“To ensure that this is achieved, plans have been put in place for continuing capital investments as well as robust human capital development initiatives that will involve exchange programmes and training courses for all cadres of staff in Egbin,’’ he said.
Mr Reuben Okeke, Director General, NAPTIN in his speech said that about 156 engineers had been graduated from the institute today, adding that they will be employed by various distribution companies to boost power supply in the country.
According to him, today, we are witnessing the graduation of a total of 156 engineers comprising of 79 distributions engineers, 73 generation and 4 in the transmission cadre.
“out of this number 100 have been sponsored by the Sahara Power Group, 45 by the Taraba State Government, 3 by the Yobe State Government while eight are self-sponsored.
“I am proud to announce that of this 156, 122 passed with merit while 3 are in the pass category with just one in the satisfactory completion category.
“l want to say that there are 15 female graduating engineers of which one will shortly be recognised for award of best graduating trainee in the self-sponsored category.
“I have no doubt in declaring unequivocally, that all 156 graduating today are fit tom work in Nigeria power sector,’’ he said.
Okeke said that the institute is committed to the power sector development initiative of the Federal government of Nigeria, which mission is to promote a centre of training that fully supports the rapid development of the power sector.
Commenting, Mr Godknows Igali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, said that potentially Nigeria can hit 5,000 mega watts but the country is currently generating between 4,600 to 4,700 mega watts which also depends on the distribution companies who has the capacity to wheel the energy Igali said that the ongoing improvement been experiencing in the power sector was not burn out of heavy rain fall but it was boosted due to the improvement in power generation supply by the thermal stations.
According to him, government target for this country is to see 24-hours power supply that is constant, because for over 15-years before privitisation of the power sector there are critical power gap in the sector.
Igali however, advised the newly graduated engineers to be more focused and determine in moving the power sector, while urging distribution companies to employ the young engineers.