In a move to boost power generation in the country, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday concluded the plans to build a $3.5 billion gas plant in Assa-North, Ohaji- South in Imo State.

The Managing Director, Mr Mutiu Summonu, of SPDC who disclosed this during a visit to Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said the Assa-North, Ohaji- South Gas supply project is in line with the local gas content policy of the Federal Government to boost power generation in the country.

Summonu said the gas plant would supply domestic gas to power energy plants across the country as well as generates massive job opportunities for Nigerians, adding that the project would be executed in two phases and would be executed in two phases and would be completed in 2018.

While soliciting for the collaboration of the state government in handling of the project, Mr Summonu also urged the government to play its part by providing 200 hectares of land for the project, enabling and secured environment for the expatriates and workers and ensure a healthy collaboration between SPDC and the host communities.

He promised that his company would always live up to expectation in the area of its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) in the course of executing the project. But Okorocha in his speech assured the SPDC team that the state government would definitely play its part to ensure immediate commencement of the project.

The governor enumerated how SPDC began its operations in Nigeria when gas was first discovered at Iho, Ikeduru LGA in Imo State and urged the company to show enough presence by building a befitting corporate office in the state.

Okorocha further assured all adequate security, good working relationship with host communities as well as general hospitality to SPDC.

He urged the company to improve on its Corporate Social Responsibility by embarking on meaningful projects especially on the power sector to ensure appreciable improvement on power generation and distribution in the state.