Alaoji Power Plant Back Online, Boosts National Grid by 370MW
By Aboki Forex —
The long abandoned Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State has resumed operations after nearly two years of shutdown. The 450 megawatt facility is now feeding about 370 megawatts of electricity into the national grid.
The plant had been inactive since 2023 due to gas supply disruptions and metering disputes. The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Engineer Jennifer Adighije, said the dispute with gas supplier TotalEnergies forced the facility offline. Unpaid obligations also piled up over time.
Adighije spoke during a meeting with Abia State Governor Alex Otti. She said restoring the plant became a top priority after she assumed office in 2024. NDPHC carried out extensive repairs on the defective gas pipeline and cleared outstanding debts owed to TotalEnergies. Major electromechanical rehabilitation works have also been completed.
Three generating units identified as GT1, GT22, and GT23 are now fully operational. They can dispatch approximately 375 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The Alaoji plant has strong transmission infrastructure with minimal evacuation constraints, making it one of the most viable generation assets in the country.
Governor Otti Plans Expansion to 1,100 Megawatts
Governor Alex Otti described the return of the plant as a critical milestone for Abia State’s economic transformation. He recalled visiting the facility while it was dormant and lamented the waste of such enormous generation capacity.
Otti said, 'The last time I visited the Alaoji Plant, it was regrettable that such capacity was wasting away. I'm glad to learn that you have brought it back to life.'
The governor also disclosed plans to expand the facility’s capacity from 450 megawatts to 800 megawatts and eventually 1,100 megawatts, depending on funding availability. He said electricity remains one of the strongest drivers of industrialisation, investment, and job creation.
Abia State Invests in Renewable Energy and Reforms
Otti revealed that his administration has intensified efforts to reform the state’s electricity sector. The state government has ring fenced the Umuahia electricity market and signed agreements with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to acquire distribution assets covering Umuahia and nearby communities.
The Umuahia ring fenced zone alone will require about 100 megawatts of electricity to serve eight local government areas. Abia is also investing heavily in renewable energy projects and mini grids to strengthen power access across the state.
NDPHC praised Abia for its reforms, particularly the Aba ring fenced arrangement and the establishment of a state electricity regulatory agency. Adighije expressed readiness to build a strategic partnership with the Abia government to deliver stable electricity.
Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utility, Engineer Monday Ikechukwu, confirmed the state’s willingness to commence commercial negotiations with NDPHC. He stressed that a reliable electricity supply remains one of the government’s biggest priorities as the state pushes for industrial expansion and economic growth.