AYO ESAN
The Federal Ministry of Power said it has started the recovery and reactivation of some generation plants at Afam Power stations to restore the plants to full generating capacity.
It is gathered that as of now only one of the five plants is working with an output of only 270 MW out of Afam installed capacity of about 1000MW of electricity.
Speaking during an inspection visit to Afam, the Minister of Power, Engr Sale Mamman stated that the Power project was still under the privatisation process saying the government had approved funds to carry out major repairs on some of the plants.
He disclosed that some of the issues affecting the project have already been presented to Federal Executive Council for deliberations and approval.
Engr Sale Mamman commended Afam community for loyalty and support while promising that they would be carried along in the privatisation process of the company. He also disclosed that the rehabilitation of the Afam road has also been taken up with the Federal government.
While receiving the Minister, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr O.N. Obademi said the major problem confronting the Afam Power Project is the paucity of funds, pointing out that Afam has not received a single budgetary allocation or receipts since 2012.
He revealed that out of the five plants installed at various times in Afam only Afam IV was functional with an output of 110MW, while Afam V, installed in 2012 with capacity to generate 276MW was being overhauled.
Engr Obademi said the company was unable to source for funds from the Capital Markets or banks because of its ownership issues. Transcorp which is the company’s preferred bidder was yet to pay and assume ownership of the plant.
