Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has said an indigenous energy firm, Alternative Petroleum and Power Ltd (APPL), would solve the energy needs of the over 30 industries built by his administration.
Speaking yesterday at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar during a visit to him by the management team of the firm, the governor hailed APPL for choosing the state for its operation.
APPL, which is in partnership with Bergen Engines, Norway and Diesel Electric Services Pty Ltd, South Africa, was allocated land at Odukpani on the outskirts of Calabar, two years ago, to build an energy outfit.
Prof. Ayade said: “We have over 30 industries our administration has built, but our greatest challenge is power, so that you come to provide an alternative source of power, using a very classic technology, which is gas to liquid technology, is a welcome development.
“I thank you for the choice of Cross River State. I thank you for the massive employment opportunity APPL will bring onboard, occasioned by the project.”
He assured the APPL management that it would not regret siting its operation in the state, “because the nature and character of a people where a business is sited determine the success of the business and industrial harmony.
“Your choice of Cross River State for your business will guarantee you industrial peace because the people are peaceful. We will support you back to back.”
The APPL Executive Director, Innovation, Idara Ekpo, an engineer, commended Ayade’s industrialisation strides, saying the governor had performed well.
He said APPL management was at the Governor’s Office to inform him of how far the company had gone in setting up its operations since the state government allocated it 30 hectares two years ago.