Thursday, 19 September 2013

"Lagos to open two IPPs in October"



The Lagos State Government has said two Independent Power Plants will be inaugurated in October which has been named as the ‘Energy Conservation Month’ by the state.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofiq Tijani, who addressed a media briefing in Lagos, on Wednesday, said the two IPPs for inauguration are the newly built 10.4 Mega Watts plant at Alausa, Ikeja and the Island Power Expansion Project on Lagos Island. According to him, Lagos State Government has been relentless and well focussed in the pursuit of a proactive energy development plan in the country. He reiterated that the state had, in the past three years, built and operated the Akute 12.15 MW IPP, which runs on Natural Gas and supplies power to Akute intake facility of Lagos Water Corporation.
The state, he said, had inaugurated the 10MW Island IPP, which supplies electricity to the General Hospital, Lagos and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and court complexes – among other LASG facilities. According to the power plant also powers street lights on Lagos Island which has drastically improved security and increased business activities at night. He also said that the Lagos State Government under its strategic and innovative energy development initiatives had named October 2013 as the ‘Energy Conservation Month’. This move, according to Tijani, is among other things aimed at inculcating the attitude of judicious use of energy in the residents of the state. He said, “During this dedicated one-month period, the State Government through its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the implementing agency Lagos State Electricity Board has developed an Energy Conservation Campaign.

The “Conserve Energy, Save Money” campaign will use behaviour change communication materials that carry step by step, do it yourself instructions on energy efficiency and conservation improvements to save Lagosians money and make our city more energy efficient.” As a prelude to the Energy Conservation Month, Tijani said Governor Babatunde Fashola and musician M.I would engage the youth on Google Hangout to enlighten them on responsible ways to use energy. He said further that there would also be energy conservation activations at the E-Center, Yaba and a couple of other locations on Lagos Island where residents of the state would have the opportunity to learn how they could calculate their energy consumption on the spot.

Besides, the commissioner further disclosed that sensitisation awareness for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas initiative would also be carried out in Ikorodu as part of efforts to further encourage more residents to embrace the use of LPG as a safer, cost effective, health and environment-friendly alternative to kerosene stove, firewood and charcoal. Tijani explained that all of these initiatives underlined the commitment of the Fashola administration to the provision of a holistic solution to the perennial power problem that had inhibited socio-economic development of not just the state but Nigeria as a whole, for long. ‘‘Our energy initiatives in Lagos State are a clear demonstration of innovative approach to good governance and much more in bringing radical solutions to the epileptic power problem in Nigeria. We are delighted to be the first state in Nigeria to show leadership in novel power generation and power management solutions,’’ he said.

Energy Ambassador, Musician, M.I Abaga who was present at the media conference, was excited to be a part of the energy conservation initiative by the Lagos State Government. He said, “It’s such an exciting time to be living in Lagos State. Now more than ever before, Lagosians are being empowered to work hand-in-hand with the government to establish better systems to enhance the living conditions of the people.” He further encouraged Lagosians to begin to imbibe the energy conserving consciousness stating “we can save so much money by practicing energy conservation. In addition to helping save money, energy conservation also helps preserve energy for future use, and protect the environment.’’

Report from The Punch Newspaper

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