Additional 8.8 megawatts of electricity is to be added to existing capacity from embedded generation in Lagos State from next month.
The 8.8 megawatts are coming from the Mainland Independent Power Plant (IPP) which is to be switched on by Governor Babatunde Fashola on October 31, as part of activities to mark the 2014 Energy Conservation month in the state.
The Mainland IPP located within the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Ikeja, will bring to four, the number of IPPs so far embarked upon by the Lagos State government in partnership with some private investors.
Among the existing IPPs in the state include the 12.15 megawatts Akute IPP which currently enables the Lagos Water Corporation to pump over 130 million gallons of water daily, the 10 megawatts Lagos Island IPP which supplies 24-hour electricity to selected public institutions and facilities on the island, and the 10.4 megawatts Alausa IPP supplying power to the state secretariat complex.
The Mainland IPP, according to Danmilola Ogunbiyi, general manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, will ensure 24-hour uninterrupted electric power supply to a number of public institutions including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja High Court complex, old secretariat complex, Ikeja Water Works and guarantee over 20km of public lighting to select streets around Ikeja.
Governor Babatunde Fashola would formally switch on the power plant on Friday, October 31, 2014 as part of commitment to a holistic plan to meet the power needs of Lagos, said Ogunbiyi.
She explained that “the power need of Lagos, Nigeria’s industrial and commercial nerve centre and one of the world’s fastest growing mega cities is huge and to this end, the state government has launched several initiatives to meet the power need of its people across domestic, industrial and commercial spheres.”
Ogunbiyi said part of the steps taken so far by the Fashola administration is the implementation of a strategic energy development plan which entails the creation of a full-fledged Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), launch of independent power projects as well as the dedication of October as the energy conservation month.
AIT
