Asaba – The Delta Government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Alpha Energy and Electric Incorporation, an American company to generate 500 megawatts of electricity into the national grid.
Gov.Ifeanyi Okowa who witnessed the signing in Asaba, said that the public private partnership agreement would help to actualise Federal Government’s set goals of achieving 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
“This MoU we are signing today is for the development, design, financing, construction and maintenance of multiple power production plants in multiple locations in the state.
“As a state we are ready to give the necessary assistance and co-operation to enable your company succeed because the power generated in the country is very low.
“We need to boost it to meet the power needs of our industries and attract investors to the state so as to impact on our economy and create employment.
“President Buhari has promised to improve energy generation in the country to 10,000 mw by 2018, so this partnership will enable us contribute our quota to achieve the President’s energy goals,” Okowa said.
Okowa disclosed that the state government would partner credible investors to develop the economy, create employment for the youths and improve the state’s infrastructure.
“The state has vast untapped deposits of natural gas, land and friendly environment which investors can put into use,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Ike Nwabuonwu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, said that the company was in the state to develop and maintain multiple power production plants in multiple locations to generate 500mw of electricity.
He said that they were keying into the Obama Power Initiative For Africa to contribute their quota to the improvement of power in the country using various energy sources.
“The MoU is to design, develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain multiple power production plants in multiple locations in Delta State of Nigeria.
“It is estimated to be up to 500 megawatts and this will be executed in phases.
“The first phase is estimated to generate up to 150 megawatts,” he said.
Nwabuonwu assured that the project would create employment opportunities for the teeming youths as well as boost the economy of the state.
The Secretary to State Government, Mr Ovie Agas, signed on behalf of the government, while Nwabuonwu signed for the company.(NAN)
