The Managing Director of Clarke Energy, M. Yiannis Tsantilas, has predicted that gas projects like the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline, will spur interest and boosts needed to expand industries in the northern Nigeria.
He told newsmen in Abuja last weekend that already, new power business concerns have begun to develop, while existing ones are developing new plants to take advantage of gas infrastructure projects expected to be completed in the region.
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“We have had a critical breakthrough with some power plant projects in the northern part of Nigeria. These projects are of extraordinary importance not only to Clark Energy but to the nation,” he said.
The company, he stated, is erecting a plant and expanding another in Kano state; both having a combined capacity of 20 megawatts (MW). The company boss said his firm plans to execute the projects in phases.
“We will deliver 10 megawatts in phase one by the end of the year 2020, while the second half would be delivered in the second phase by early 2021.
“These companies are significant industrial players, representing the largest employers of labour in the north, and are led by visionaries who can foresee the future and take it,” he said.
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He said, furthermore, the power plants will utilize natural gas to primarily produce auxiliary power for the customers’ existing facility. “Our solutions will improve productivity, reduce operational costs and carbon footprint or emissions. These benefits will impact on the companies’ profitability and allow quality products to be manufactured locally and offered to consumers at more affordable prices,” Tsantilas said.
“For the country, when the benefits listed above impacts local production consequently, Nigeria will depend less on importation. In addition, the plant will utilize gas supplied on the AKK distribution network which provides value on the pipeline investment and generates revenue for the government.
“Also, the carbon emissions from the plants are low, and consequently improve air quality for those living in the region. Furthermore, the solutions will close the electricity deficit gap and reduce the strain on the national grid,” he said.
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Clarke Energy will also provide technical training to individuals that will manage the power plant, to ensure adequate skill transfer, which also improves the employment rates in the region.
RCE Overseas Ltd partnered with Clarke Energy in the building of a 10MW Jenbacher gas-fired power plant, which is an initiative of NOAC, to power the NCDMB Towers, NOGaPS facility, Bayelsa state government facilities (government house, state secretariat complex and other auxiliary buildings) in Bayelsa state.
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
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