As Delta Prepares To Generate 3,000 Megawatts Of Electricity BY - TopicsExpress



          

As Delta Prepares To Generate 3,000 Megawatts Of Electricity BY FIDELIS EGUGBO DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is someone that many will like to criticize. Yes! Many will like to criticize him because he embarks on projects which those people see as impossible. Ordinarily, is it possible for a state government to embark on the construction of two international airports? Governor Uduaghan has successfully completed one in Asaba while another is ongoing in Warri as an international runway is being constructed at the Osubi airport. Again, is it possible for a state government to embark on the dualisation of more than 130 kilometres of federal road? The Ughelli/Asaba dual carriage way is one of such projects that the governor has embarked on that critics will find favourable ground to carry out their activities. But, what of constructing and equipping a hospital to an international standard? Governor Uduaghan did it with the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara where kidney transplant and other health challenges that seemed impossible in third world countries including those in Africa are taking place. Again, Governor Uduaghan’s critics will have a field day talking about why the governor should be in the forefront of looking at periods where oil may dry up or will not have market value. But, a clear visit to Oloibiri where oil was first harnessed in Nigeria in the 1960s would make a wise man to think beyond oil and Governor Uduaghan does not want to be caught napping as he initiated the current whirl wind and sing song in the nation about not only “Delta Beyond Oil” but “Nigeria Beyond Oil.” The Governor Uduaghan’s administration is not working for Delta of today but, Delta of tomorrow and this can be seen from the manner many Deltans have been made entrepreneurs through the micro-credit programme. Again, most of the industries being attracted to the state were such that most Deltans will be trained to be professionals to enable them set up their businesses and be employers of labour. Last week, the Uduaghan administration recorded another breakthrough in what will ordinarily give critics another reason to smile. Governor Uduaghan’s administration got a Canadian based investor, SkyPower Energy, to build and generate solar-powered electricity in the state. The company will invest $5 billion to produce 3,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Naturally, the Commissioner for Power and Energy, Hon. Charles Emetulu who was present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the company and the Delta State Government was full of joy as he noted that when it becomes functional, Deltans will become the greatest beneficiaries and it will remain on record that it took place during the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. It is a fact that in Nigeria, despite its federal nature, every electricity generated by a state or individual must go into the national grid. It was therefore a thing of joy for the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga who stated that the Canadian firm would be producing 3,000 megawatts of solar-based electricity for the national grid with the facility being deployed first in Delta State having taken the initiative for the renewable energy plant. “Skypower will deploy first in Delta State which has taken the lead because of the enormous work the state has put in to ensure the realisation of the renewable energy programme”, the Minister stated; disclosing that the Federal Government will facilitate the provision of license to generate the solar-based electricity for the national grid. It would be recalled that the Delta State government under the leadership of Governor Uduaghan had completed discussions with energy giant, Philips to set-up factories in the state to produce energy-saving bulbs and other items and create employment for the people of the state. Yes, employment is a key factor as Governor Uduaghan desires that all employable Deltans should not only be positively engaged but should be employers of labour. We may not go into the fact that the Governor Uduaghan administration has also signed an MoU with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to establish a shoe manufacturing and leather works production and training centre in Asaba which will provide a minimum of 2, 000 jobs on completion. The signing of the MoU with SkyPower is a giant step by the Governor Uduaghan administration as a trail blazer towards Delta State becoming a key player in the area of renewable energy. That the Governor Uduaghan administration is finishing strong is obvious as Delta is the first state in the country to achieve such lofty heights in terms of renewable energy. While praying that Governor Uduaghan’s giant steps will continue to be to the benefits of Deltans, kudos must also go to the silent achiever, Hon. Charles Emetulu who believes more in working silently than to be heard with the strong belief that all credit should go to his employer and boss, the governor.
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 03:33:03 +0000

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