The House of Representatives has urged Vice President Kashim Shettima to summon an emergency meeting to facilitate the urgent revival of the Gbarain Power Plant in Bayelsa State, aiming to bolster the efficiency of the national grid.
Shettima, who chairs the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Board, received this call as part of the House’s resolution following a motion presented by Hon. Oboku Oforji during Thursday’s plenary session.
Additionally, the House has requested the Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Joseph Ugbo, to appear before the Committee on Power to provide insights into the current state of the Gbarain Power Plant.
Oforji underscored that the Gbarain Power Plant, a 252-megawatt open cycle gas turbine power facility in Koroama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is pivotal for the region’s electricity supply.
The NDPHC experienced a setback when the Power Control Module of the Gbarain Power Plant was lost in a fire incident, prompting concerns over the plant’s operational capacity.
While the Bayelsa State Government stepped in to support the NDPHC by rehabilitating the power supply infrastructure, concerns linger over the NDPHC’s proposal to designate the power plant as a construction site, rather than focusing on its operation.
Oforji highlighted the significant potential of the Gbarain Power Plant, emphasizing its capacity to become the largest power station in the nation, given its strategic location and access to gas resources allocated by Shell Petroleum Development Company.
The motion underscores the urgency of addressing operational challenges to harness the Gbarain Power Plant’s full potential for the benefit of the Niger Delta region and the nation at large.
