By Francis Ekeh
Gov Douye Diri, of Bayelsa has said the state’s 60 Megawatts (Mw) independent power project inuagurated on April 10 by President Bola Tinubu is uncompleted and still needs some ‘finishing touches’
This is coming on the heels of disappointments by residents across the state capital who had expected that the inauguration will bring electricity to brighten the state which has long been in darkness and power their homes and businesses respectively.
The failure of the 60mw gas-fired plant installed by the Diri administration to provide 24-hour electricity after it was commissioned had generated concerns across Bayelsa.
The Bayelsa governor, however, explained that the plant was undergoing finishing touches that required installation of some critical devices to safeguard the project and the state’s investment in the power sector.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the governor gave the explanation on Thursday during the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa and appealed to residents of the state to be patient.
While assuring that the process would soon be completed, Diri took a swipe at those who chose to play politics with the power project.
He said: “We know that the people of Bayelsa will never forget the gas turbine project. But some of our people are talking about time and darkness. There is nothing like darkness. Those who want to play politics can do so but we will do what we know is right for our state and our people.
”As a government, we want our people to be free from darkness. So, whatever you are seeing are the final finishing touches after the commissioning. Certain protective devices must be placed on the turbines so that when they start operation, they will not be affected.
”Immediately the protective devices are fully installed, the turbines will come on to the shame of those who want darkness as they didn’t want the turbines at all.”
Investigations show that there is confusion surrounding the distribution component as the Director General of Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Commission announced that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) which owns and manages the existing distribution network in Bayelsa will not be involved in off taking electricity from the power plant.
The development further heightened suspicions that the waiting time could be longer to put together a new power distribution network including stringing cables , erecting new electricity cables and transformers.
The uncertainties around the distribution is fundamental because the distribution company evacuates power from the generating company to households and business end users as well as collect the much needed revenue to offset gas cost , maintain the plants to make it a going concern.
Nothing has also been heard from Jampour Group, the contractor for the power plant who also signed a multimillion dollar deal with the Bayelsa government for the manufacture of smart electricity meters for accurate measurement of electricity used by customers.
It will be recalled that the governor had during an earlier inspection of the power plant hinted that electricity generated from the plant will not be free and urged residents to brace up to pay for electricity used, assuring that metering will ensure that customers were not overcharged.