The Gwagwalada Independent electricity Plant (GIPP) project, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), is a significant step towards meeting its target for adding five gigawatts to the country’s electricity generation by 2024.
At the presidential groundbreaking of the 350 Megawatts (MW) Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant (GIPP) project on Friday in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Malam Mele Kyari, Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., announced as much.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), President Bola Tinubu performed the groundbreaking alongside other senior government officials.
On 547 hectares of land that have previously been purchased in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the gas plant, a 1,350MW combined cycle power plant with auxiliaries and balance of plant, would be built.
The requirement to supply gas for more power generation capacity in Nigeria led to the creation of the GIPP.
The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, whose development is currently in its advanced stage, shall feed gas to the facility.
When the GIPP Project is finished, it will produce 10.3 million Megawatt hours (MWh) of power annually to sell to Nigerian Bulk power Trading Plc (NBET).
Kyari said that the 350MW project was the first stage of the Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant’s anticipated 1,350MW capacity.
He asserts that Nigeria is rich in natural gas resources, having proved reserves of more than 209 TCF and prospective reserves of more than 600 TCF.
He said that as a for-profit company, NNPC saw the project as a chance to capitalise on Nigeria’s plentiful natural gas resources by increasing access to electricity and fostering industrialization, economic growth, and job creation across the country.
He said that the NNPC had made significant investments in domestic gas footprint expansion projects to fulfil this national objective through the execution of the Trans-Nigeria Pipeline Project.
The Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (0B3) gas pipeline, the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS & ELPS Il), and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline were among them, he claimed.
The Afam VI and Okpai Phase One thermal power facilities, which have a total installed capacity of 1,100MW, are now supplying roughly 800MW to the national grid through NNPC and partners.
Additionally, we have finished the Okpai Phase Two project, which will provide 320 MW of power to the national grid, and we are moving forward with other power plant projects across the nation, including those along the AKK pipeline route.
“The Gwagwalada IPP is one of the AKK corridor’s main NNPC power projects. This is a portion of the 3,600MW total power capacity, which also includes the Kaduna IPP’s 900MW and the Kano IPP’s 1,350MW, the official said.
He declared that China Machinery and Engineering Corporation, the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, and General Electric, the original equipment manufacturer, will work together to complete the project.
He declared that the NNPC will continue to duplicate comparable viable business opportunities across the Nation to ensure electricity affordability, just as it had recently opened the 50MW Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.
But he acknowledged the assistance of other parties, including the Ministry of Power, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the Gwagwalada host community, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, and Transmission Company of Nigeria.
In order to benefit both the country and NNPC as a commercial energy firm, he promised that increasing access to energy will change the game, improve the environment for investment, and support balanced economic growth.
In order to revive hope and reorient the Nigerian economy, Kyari also acknowledged the positive policy direction of Tinubu’s administration.
He stated, “Your Excellency’s respected attendance at this event is a demonstration of your commitment and support to enhance the nation’s capacity for electricity generation to support economic growth for our country, and for this, we are very grateful.
