C'River Plans 120MW Power Generation

Judex OKORO 

The government of Cross River says it plans to have a power generating capacity of about 120 Mega Watt (MW)  from combine sources in a bid to ensure steady and reliable power supply across the state.

The Commissioner for Power, Mr Eka Wiliams made the disclosure in an interview with journalists in  Calabar on Tuesday.

The Commissioner listed the sources to include Gas Fire Turbine, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Hydro, Windmill, Biomass and solar energy.

Williams explained that the state had already existing two power plants with a combined installed capacity of 49MW.

He said that the government has concessioned one of the plant at Tinapa with an installed capacity of 26MW while talk with an investor to takeover the other one at Parliamentary area of Calabar with the capacity of 23MW is been finalized.

He gave gestation period to realise the total install capacity of 120MW for the state to be between one to two years.

"In reality, no body is happy with the current situation of power supply across the county and Cross River is not exempted.

"It is this regard that we want to commend the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for allowing states to generate their own power.

"As such, the government of Cross River is working to isolate itself from the national grid by investing more in its own power generation.

"Aside the 26MW and 23MW that we are working to make functional, we are also working with some partners in the area of renewable energy.

"Cross river is also proposing wind Turbine at Akamkpa, Biomass waste dump, windmill, Hydro and CNG. 

"We plan 10MW waste in Calabar, 5MW CNG in Ikom, 5MW CNG in Ogoja, 20 to 25 windmill at Akamkpa with a plan to scale up, 2.5MW hydro in Obudu Ranch, and 10MW Hydro at Agbokim water fall.

"In as much as we want everything to be ready as soon as possible, of course we all know that issue of power is not one you get at the shelf," he stated.