The Federal Ministry of Environment and officials of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited on Friday, commenced the conduct of the environmental impact assessment on the site of the proposed new 60 megawatts Bayelsa power plant.
The power plant project located at Elebele, near the state capital, Yenagoa is a state government project aimed at ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the state
Conducting the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal round the project site, Steve Bubagha Jnr., Director of Operations of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, said the state company intends to install a 60mw plug and play gas fired turbine which will receive gas feed from the Oando gas manifold located in Elebele community.
He said the total land area for the project was 5.8 hectares, noting however, that the company is currently making use of only 2.1 hectares allocated for the project.
“This is a plug and play gas turbine. What we mean by plug and play is that the turbine is already set to be installed on arrival from the manufacturers.
“What we are waiting for is just to work on other components of the gas turbine, and so in less than two years or at most in two years time the turbine should be running,” Bubagha said
In an interview with newsmen shortly after his visit to the site, environment minister, represented by Mr. Adimchinobi Okereke, an official of the ministry, said the visit was to ensure that work on the site does not fall short of conventional environmental impact assessment guidelines.
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He commended the state government for the project, stressing that upon completion it will not only benefit Bayelsans, but also solve part of the protracted power problem facing a segment of the nation.
“The reason for this visit and workshop is to ensure that a proper environmental impact assessment was carried out before final approval is granted the Bayelsa State Government.
“But you must know that this power project is a welcome development for the state and Nigeria, as it will not only benefit this state and its people, but also solve the problem of inadequate power supply to a segment of this nation”, he said.
On his part, the environmental impact assessment consultant to the project, and Dean Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Prof. Azibola Inegite, assured of complying with international best practices.
Prof. Inegite assured that the environmental impact assessment will be carried out on the site and location of the power plant, saying it is an essential aspect of the execution of life-impacting land and environment related projects.
