FG sets up EIA panel on 1,350MW plant

The Federal Government has set up an Environmental Impact Assessment panel for the proposed Abuja 1,350 megawatts Independent Power Plant.

It was gathered that the panel held its review meeting on the EIA for the project in Abuja, where the Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmud, commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for coming up with the initiative.

Mahmud, according to a statement issued by the NNPC in Abuja on Tuesday, said the project was critical given its potential to improve the power situation in Nigeria.

The minister, who was represented by Celestine Gomwalk, said the ministry, through the newly constituted EIA panel, would ensure that only mutually beneficial decisions would be considered.

In his presentation, the Abuja Independent Power Plant Project Manager, Benjamin Adah, stated that part of the objectives of the proposed project was to diversify and monetise NNPC gas revenue stream through power generation.

Adah noted that it was an initiative that would assist in reducing the current gas flare across the country.

He said the project would leverage on the existing huge natural gas resources from the NNPC upstream and the proposed Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline to boost the nation’s revenue base.

Adah stated that besides generating 1,350MW into the national grid, the project would help to decongest the over-voltage on transmission network coming from closely located power generating companies in the gas producing areas.