By Olakunle Oke
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, has announced the restoration of the 450-megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State to the national grid after a three-year shutdown caused by gas supply and metering disputes.
Adighije disclosed this during a meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, where she briefed him on efforts made by the company to revive the power facility.
She explained that the plant was shut down in 2023 following discrepancies between metering and trading points, which led gas supplier TotalEnergies to suspend gas supply to the plant. The situation was worsened by unresolved financial obligations owed to the supplier.
According to Adighije, restoring the Alaoji plant became a major priority after she assumed office in 2024.
“The good news is that we have completed all remedial works on the defective gas line. We have also fully defrayed our outstanding obligations to TotalEnergies, and gas supply to the plant has now been restored,” she stated.
She further revealed that extensive electromechanical works had been carried out on the facility, leading to the successful restoration of three generating units — GT1, GT22 and GT23 — which are now capable of dispatching about 375 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Adighije noted that the plant has sufficient transmission infrastructure with no major evacuation constraints, describing it as a strategic generation asset that can significantly improve electricity supply across the country.
The NDPHC boss also commended the Abia State Government for reforms in the electricity sector, particularly the Aba ring-fenced power arrangement and the establishment of the state electricity regulatory agency.
She stated that the company was leveraging the provisions of the Electricity Act and the evolving bilateral electricity market to collaborate with states and eligible customers in expanding electricity access nationwide.
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“We would love to form a strategic alliance with Abia State, considering your administration’s strong commitment to securing uninterrupted electricity supply for the people of the state,” she added.
Responding, Governor Otti praised the management of NDPHC for reviving the Alaoji plant, describing the development as vital to economic growth and industrialisation in the state.
“The last time I visited the Alaoji plant, it was regrettable that such huge capacity was lying idle. I am delighted to learn that the plant has now been brought back to life,” the governor said.
Otti disclosed that the plant could eventually be expanded from its current capacity to 800 megawatts and later to about 1,100 megawatts, subject to the availability of funding.
He reiterated that electricity remains one of the most critical drivers of economic development, noting that his administration had prioritised investments in power infrastructure since assuming office in 2023.
The governor also revealed that the state government had ring-fenced the Umuahia electricity market and entered into an agreement with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to acquire electricity distribution assets covering Umuahia and surrounding areas.
According to him, the state would require about 100 megawatts to serve the eight local government areas under the Umuahia ring-fence, while investments in renewable energy and mini-grid projects were ongoing.
He directed the state Commissioner for Power to work closely with NDPHC officials on modalities for wheeling electricity from the Alaoji plant to Umuahia and other parts of the state.
Otti assured the NDPHC management of the state government’s support and urged the company to remain committed despite prevailing challenges in the power sector.
Speaking after a tour of the facility, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities in Abia State, Engr. Monday Ikechukwu, assured Adighije of the government’s readiness to partner with NDPHC.
He stated that the state was prepared to begin commercial negotiations with the company, stressing that reliable electricity supply remains a top priority of the administration.
Earlier, the Acting Chief Operating Officer of the Alaoji Power Plant, Engr. Emenogu Augustine Uzoma, stated that the facility was fully prepared for sustained operations.
