By Dipo Olowookere

The Joint Venture (JV) the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will increase the Federal Government power generation aspiration by 480 megawatts (MW) through the completion of its Okpai Phase II Independent Power Project (IPP) by 2019.

Group Managing Director of NNPC Dr Maikanti Kacalla Baru, speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the inauguration of the Okpai Phase II power project, stated that all partners were working round the clock to deliver on the project in terms of specifications, time and budget.

He said the decision by the partners to embark on the second phase of the Okpai power project was hinged on the enormous success of Okpai Phase I, which he described as the most consistent power plant in the country.

“Although it (Okpai Phase I) was meant to generate 450MW into national grid, it is now generating an average of 300MW due to evacuation challenge. This is a significant addition to the national grid,” he said.

He said the Okpai Phase II project, on completion, would generate additional 480MW into the national grid.

He charged the 12-man committee to work hard and explore the possibility of delivering the project ahead of the 2019 target date, stressing that the project was very critical to the nation’s power aspirations.

The GMD also urged the JV partners to sustain the march towards transforming into an Independent JV in keeping with Presidential approval.

Earlier, Managing Director of NAOC, Mr Massimo Insula, who was represented by Mr Luca Bai, said everything had been put in place to ensure that the Okpai Phase II Project was delivered on schedule.

In his remarks, Deputy CEO of Oando, Mr Omamofe Boyo, said his company was committed to sustaining the successes recorded in Phase I of the project, assuring that they would work with other partners to ensure prompt and timely delivery of the project.