DELTA State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for a 400MW combined cycle power plant at Ekrokpe/Ekrejegbe, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

According to Gov Okowa, “The Nigerian government has continued in her struggle to provide energy for development and for home services in our country but, we know we are faced with challenges and with the private sector becoming more interested in generating energy.”

He noted that great hope was ahead of such that the energy need of the country would be catered for in the nearest future.

Okowa, who expressed excitement for performing the ceremony, averred that with the increase in the number of energy-generating companies, it was important for the distribution companies to see that Nigerians are satisfied.

He urged the host communities to maintain their peaceful dispositions and urged them not to demand so much from the company while asking the company, Onose TBEA Energy Ltd to meet with its social corporate responsibilities, and ensure that youths from the area are engaged in the construction work of the plant and are also, employed when the company commences its operations.

Chairman of Onose Tbea, General Alexander Ogomudia (rtd) had earlier, in an address, said, “without power, we will be wasting our time in terms of development.”

He stated that though the company was commencing operations by generating 400MW of electricity, the target is to contribute 2000 MW of electricity to the national grid.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Jim Elueni, in his own address to welcome dignitaries, expressed appreciation that the governor, having known the importance of the project, wasted no time in granting the company all approvals that arrived at his desk in the pursuit of this laudable project.”