Enugu State Government has unveiled plans to build a 660MW coal-fired power plant in the state, with groundbreaking scheduled for July this year. The project is a key component of Governor Peter Mbah's administration strategy to grow the state's economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
Private sector endorsement
The Organised Private Sector Nigeria (OPSN), an umbrella body comprising the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), and Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), has endorsed Governor Mbah for a second term. They praised his outstanding leadership, which has strengthened confidence in Enugu as an emerging destination for investment, commerce, enterprise development, and living.
Electricity market pioneer
Speaking during a solidarity visit by OPSN at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah recalled that Enugu State was the first subnational to establish an electricity market following constitutional and Electricity Act amendments that moved power from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List. This allows states to participate in generation, transmission, and distribution.
Mbah said: "We have gone beyond setting up the electricity market to producing electricity here. In July, we will break ground for a 660MW coal-fired power plant. The construction timeline is 24 months, so we target commissioning 24 months after groundbreaking."
Environmental considerations
The governor allayed concerns about coal, citing the low sulfur content and high calorific value of Enugu coal, which stands at about 7,000 kilocalories per kilogramme. He emphasized that the project was not a knee-jerk decision; his administration spent about two years conducting necessary studies and securing coal assets to ensure unhindered supplies to the plant.
