Nigerian CCGT 'To Start Up 2H2019'

A new 400 MW gas-fired power plant is to planned to start generating in 18 months in Nigeria’s Delta State, officials have said.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the combined cycle (CCGT) project, at Ekrokpe near Ekrejegbe in the Ughelli South district, was held April 19 and attended by Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other senior officials. The project is being built by Nigerian developer Onose Tbea Energy. The company intends to add more generation capacity, once the current project is completed.

The intention is to enable more of Nigeria’s existing 7000 MW national grid capacity to be used, and thus improve reliability of electricity supply to most Nigerians.

Delta State holds about 40% of Nigeria’s natural gas reserves, but local and foreign investment there is low, due to the infrastructural deficit, as well as alleged delays in securing government approvals.

In 2017, Nigerian developer Powergas inked an agreement with Delta State on providing natural gas to customers beyond the reach of existing gas pipelines, either as compressed natural gas or as LNG. It’s not clear if this agreement is relevant to the future supply of gas to the Ekrokpe plant, due onstream 2H2019.