The Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BEC) says it has made significant progress on the 60 Mega Watts (MW) power plant project located at Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa.

Engr. Steve Bubagha, Director of Operation, BEC said on Wednesday while conducting newsmen on a tour of the project site at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa.

According to him: “The project is progressing at an exponential rate, with approximately 70 per cent of work completed, adding the with the pate of work the project will be completed before deadline.

He noted that Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has reiterated that power supply is expected to commence on or before the end of this year.

“When we came here about 3 weeks ago we hadn’t the platforms, the offices were not complete, these buildings weren’t there so you can see the progress of work.

“The control room is almost ready, you have seen the pipes, you have seen the switch gears, instrumentation valves, the warehouse as well as the store the pipes have been piped. If you look there you will see the headers of the pipe that is where the gas will be supplied from.

“We have covered up to about 70 percent if we complete the basement this week by next week we are bringing in the switch gears.

“The base for the power transformers are almost ready and by the end of this month we are bringing in the power transformers and by next month to August our turbine should be ready,” he said.

He revealed that the control room is almost ready, the base for power transformers is almost ready as well and that pipes have been piped, and headers are in place as well as switch gears and instrumentation valves are also ready.

Bubagha stated that the turbine is expected to be ready by August, and power transformers will be installed by the end of this month.

Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to Bayelsa Gov. on Media and Publicity (Print), Wisdom Ikuli said the 60MW gas turbines project in Bayelsa is expected to have a significant impact on the state’s economy and quality of life of the citizens.

Ikuli stated that the project will attract businesses, create employment opportunities, and stimulate economic growth in the state.

He noted that the project is part of Diri’s Assured Prosperity Agenda, which aims to improve the welfare and well-being of Bayelsa peoole.

According to him, the project will also improve access to electricity in homes, offices, and businesses, reducing the reliance on solar panels and diesel generators as this will improve the overall quality of life in Bayelsa.

Ikuli praised Diri’s vision for the state, citing his commitment to implementing large-scale projects that will transform Bayelsa’s economy and compared the governor’s vision to that of the late Melford Okilo, a former governor of Rivers.

He explained that the governor has embarked on several other infrastructure projects, including the Nembe-Brass road, Yenagoa Agiama Otuan Oporoma road, Glorydrive, and Imgbi bridge, among others.