Parts of Bayelsa State,
which include Ogbia, Nembe and sections of Southern Ijaw local government areas, which have been without electricity for almost a year will have to endure much longer until components of the imiringi Gas Turbine sent to Vancouver, Canada, are repaired.
The refurbishment, which is costing the government about N217 million, will be ready for test-run early next month, according to the state Commissioner for Energy, Barrister Francis Ikio.
Ikio, who addressed journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital, said the government was spending the money because it believe that the plant was still serviceable, adding that the faulty components were shipped to a Rolls Royce-operated workshop in Canada. Rolls Royce is the manufacturer of the power plant in Vancouver, Canada.
The commissioner said the work was delayed due to technical reasons, saying the state government had no intention to segregate any section, in its efforts to provide the dividends of democracy.
The plant, with 20-megawatt generator, was installed by the Chief Melford Okilo regime in the old Rivers State, and inherited by the Bayelsa State Government which had refurbished it in 1999, 2006 and 2011.
He solicited the understanding of residents and urged them to bear with government as it was poised to addressed the power situation.
He said that the manufacturer had scheduled to complete the repairs of the plant in May, but regretted that the work would extend by more weeks “because of excess workload in the company’s workshop.”
The plan, which contributes to power supply in the state, broke down in October, 2013, and has led to a drop in power supply.
Ikio appealed to the people to be patient, adding that the Canadian firm had assured that the plant would perform optimally for six years before it would be due for maintenance.
However, Special Assistant to the Governor on Energy, Engineer Olice Kenemegbe, during the briefing, said the state found it more expedient to refurbish the old gas generator because of scarcity of its parts, adding that a new one will cost about $1.6 million (about N435million).
