The Chairman/CEO of the Zuma Energy Nigeria Limited (ZENL), Dr. Innocent Ozoemena Ezuma, has disclosed that the construction work for the 1,200 megawatts (mw) coal power plant in Itobe, Kogi State, will commence early next year.
Dr. Ezuma who spoke with Daily Trust through telephone, said preparations were in top gear to finalise the pre-construction process for the largest coal power plant in West Africa.
He said: “I am actually in China now to finalise the EPC contractor’s agreement. So the project is on top gear and we are doing our best to start very soon.”
“We are looking at commencing the project by 1st quarter of next year with 36 months completion period. When completed, the 1,200 megawatts (mw) capacity coal plant will generate substantial electric power to the national grid as an Independent Power Project (IPP).”
He noted that ZENL acquired a water license recently from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to establish a coal-fired power plant from River Niger which is adjacent to the project site, adding that it would enable it to improve power generation in the country.
ZENL, in its official post, said it obtained two major power generation licenses to develop a 400 mw combined cycle gas fired power project and another 1,200 mw coal-fired power plant.
It noted that the 1,200 mw plant at Itobe will be developed in 2 phases of 600 mw each, in a total of 8 units x 150 mw turbine capacity.
The Minister of Mines, Steel and Metallurgy, Musa Sada, last week, during the National Council on Power (NACOP) inauguration hinted that Zuma Coal Mine in Okobo, has produced substantial amount of coal to fire coal power plants.
He said: “Okopo coal mine is covered by the Mining Lease of 91 and is owned by Zuma Coal Ltd. It has mined and produced over 30,000 metric tonnes on a test run basis between September 2012 and February 2014. Zuma has also obtained all the necessary clearance and are currently on the design stage for their coal plant to produce power.”
