Gas deliveries have begun to a newly commissioned 60-megawatt independent power project in Yenagoa, as a joint venture involving Oando Plc moves to power the facility with dedicated feedstock from its upstream assets.
The company announced on April 16 that its partnership with NNPC E&P Limited is now providing the natural gas required to run the plant located in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The gas-fired power station was inaugurated on April 10 by Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to improve electricity access in the state capital and surrounding communities.
According to the statement, the joint venture is the exclusive gas supplier to the project under a long-term arrangement. About 11.2 million standard cubic feet of gas per day is being transported from the Elebele Valve Station through an interconnected trunkline to ensure continuous fuel supply to the plant.
Group Chief Executive of Oando, Wale Tinubu, said the project is expected to boost economic activity by improving the reliability of power available to homes and businesses across the state.
The power plant is designed as an integrated system, combining upstream gas delivery, embedded generation and a dedicated distribution network to ensure electricity produced is efficiently transmitted to end users.
Bayelsa, despite its status as a major oil-producing state, has long faced challenges with inconsistent electricity supply. The new facility is projected to serve tens of thousands of customers in Yenagoa and nearby areas.
The development also comes as Bayelsa assumes greater control of its electricity market. Following the passage of a state electricity law, regulatory authority was formally transferred from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency earlier this year.
The new regulator now oversees licensing, tariff setting and investment promotion within the state, creating an enabling environment for projects such as the Yenagoa independent power plant and future gas-to-power initiatives.
