Ondo State Commissioner for Mines, Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe, has listed steps taken by the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to break the monopoly of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company with a view to improving electricity supply to the citizens.
Obe said the state government planned to build several Independent Power Plants across the state, increased its solar mini-grid system to rural communities and convinced the National Electricity Regulatory Commission to give a franchise to another organisation that would extend power to Ondo South senatorial district.
Speaking in an interview, Obe said the first IPP to be built in Alagbaka area of Akure would produce between four to five megawatts of electricity.
Obe said the IPP turbines would be powered by gas.
He, however, stated that generating electricity from the IPP would be easier if gas were made available.
On the move to begin bitumen production in the state, Obe stated that the Southwest Bitumen was in syndication with organisations to put the fund together for the process.
He said there was no scientific proof that the state has the largest bitumen deposit in the state.
According to him, “We are pursuing an alternative route on regular electricity supply. BEDC has failed over time to invest infrastructure that will pass power to required areas in Ondo South.
We are working with Ondo South Power Committee and have been able to convince NERC to give a franchise of a DISCO to another organisation that will give power to Ondo South. We do hope NERC will make the big announcement so that we are no longer restrained to BEDC. Our deployment of solar mini-grids to some communities have been successful. Electricity function of the state will take a leap in no time especially when the sub stations are completed. The gas powered turbine is coming up.
“As a government, it is not ideal to extract bitumen ourselves. We have to provide the atmosphere and regulatory framework, drive the right policies, tap the best of stakeholders that will help us. Governor Akeredolu has been able to push those that could run in. Southwest Bitumen has gone far to do some drilling.”