The Chairman of Ibom power board, Engr.Etido Inyang has lamented that despite the investment made by the Akwa Ibom state government in the power sector, it has not gotten commensurate returns as only 20 percent of the invoice was being paid by the federal government to the state.
He added that not all the power generated by Ibom Power estimated at about 90 MW was evacuated into the national grid due to poor energy infrastructure.
In an interview in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Inyang, harped on the urgent need for a Power Purchase Agreement between the Ibom power company and the federal government adding that the company has recently in partnership with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Port Harcourt Power Distribution Company inaugurated a 2×15 MVA injection substation in Uyo, the state capital to ensure regular power supply within the state capital.
He said currently, the company is erecting a 2×60 MVA substation in Ekim, Mkpat Enin local government as part of the strategic investment to boost electricity supply in five local government areas of the state including the Ikot Abasi industrial hub.
The local government areas to benefit from the Ekim power substation include Oruk Anam, Ikot Abasi, Onna, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo .
Inyang said the state government in the process of fixing one of the broken down power turbines at the Ibom power plant in Ikot Abasi provided another 30KVA transformer to facilitate power supply to Ikot Abasi town which had been without electricity for some years ago.
According to him, ”there has been no investment in the power sector in the state before the present administration came into office, Akwa Ibom State had only two substations provided by the federal government since 1994.
“For the Ekim power substation, it is strategic being that gas which is the source of raw materials for power generation is found in the area, there is no way the state government could have succeeded in its industrial agenda without regular power supply.’’
He reiterated the commitment of the state to pursue its power for all initiative maintaining that currently parts of the state are enjoying between 18 to 20 hours of power supply daily while the plan to ensure 24 hours supply would be achieved when the critical energy infrastructure would be fixed.
