Lagos — EBONYI State government is to collaborate with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to establish a Bio-mass power plant.

The plant which would use rice husk and fire wood, is meant to boost industrial activities in the state.

Ebonyi State governor, Dr. Sam Egwu who gave the hint at the government house, Abakaliki during the presentation of Assessment Report on sustainable energy in the state by the representative of UNIDO in Nigeria, Dr. David Tommy, explained that the collaboration will add value to the lives of the people and promised to give it all the necessary political support to succeed.

Egwu implored the committee on UNIDO projects in the state to ensure that there were no hitches on the way of actualizing the projects, stating that there should be a time table for the implementation of the projects to ensure proper monitoring.

He expressed hope that by the time UNIDO brings other partners into the venture Ebonyi State would become a centre of excellence for many things.

In his remark, Dr. Tommy, said that the interest of the organisation in Ebonyi State was strengthened because previous programmes in the state achieved great success.

Dr. Tommy attributed the success to Governor Egwu's leadership qualities, which he said, included total commitment to what he does, focus and determination to move the people from obscurity to the lime light.

The UNIDO Representative that the organization will collaborate with the state in the area of capacity development, to cover areas of Information Technology (IT), Rural and Industrial Energy Development, as well as Agro waste value addition sector.

State Commissioner Public Utilities, Mr. Reginald Chukwuma Onwe told the Governor that the UNIDO has established the sustainable energy planning cell for Ebonyi, adding that a feasibility study on the conversion of rice husk to electricity has been programmed to commence in the state.