Daily Independent (Lagos)
David Agba
9 October 2008
Abuja — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at the weekend granted operating license to Notore Power Limited to generate 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity that would be injected into the national grid.
This new licensee brings to 29 the number of private sector operators so far licensed in the power sector within the last three years.
Notore Power Limited will operate using facilities of the defunct National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), Onne, Rivers State and would supply power to Notore Chemical Industries Limited, (formerly NAFCON)and the national grid.
Presenting the license to the Chief Technical Officer of Notore Power Limited, Charles Odita, at the Commission's head office in Abuja, the Chairman, Dr. Ransome Owan, charged Notore to adhere to international best practices in the industry by abiding by stipulated milestones, terms and conditions for the license.
He said, "As we (NERC)issue this licence to Notore Power Limited, we remind them that the Commission will be monitoring their activities, to make sure that they adhere to the terms and conditions stipulated for their licence, and milestones given them."
Owan also used the opportunity of the licensing ceremony to warn the other 28 licensees that the Commission placed high premium on the conditions stipulated for the awards of those licenses, adding that it would not hesitate to withdraw them or sanction the awardees, as it would not tolerate any act that is contrary to the terms and conditions of awards.
"The Commission will not hesitate to take immediate and appropriate actions in response to breaches by any licensee", Owan warned.
Receiving the license on behalf of his company, Charles Odita said, "We are indeed grateful to NERC, for the issuance of this license. This is a journey that has taken over a year, not because we are slow, but we appreciate the detailed work NERC has to do to ensure international standard is maintained."
Odita said that a unique feature of the Notore Power Plant was that it is about the only one with the plant and gas readily available and could start running as soon as the license is issued.
This is in addition to the fact the project would impact on the power and agriculture sectors of the economy.
"We are strategically positioned. We have the gas and the plant. We just finished the rehabilitation of the plant and we could start running as soon as we hit the ground", Odita said.
Odita enthused that his company might soon apply for a licence to expand its power generation capacity.
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