NDPHC commences restoration of 225MW Gbarain NIPP plant
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has officially commenced the restoration of the 225MW Gbarain National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Bayelsa State, formally handing over the power plant to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Schneider Electric/TILT Energy, for the commencement of rehabilitation works.
This development marks another major milestone in NDPHC’s strategic drive to recover stranded generation assets, increase available generation capacity, and strengthen the electricity supply to Nigeria’s national grid.
This is as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, led the company’s management team in issuing the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and formally handing over the project site to the OEM.
She was accompanied by the Executive Director of Generation, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, alongside other senior management officials.
The Gbarain NIPP Plant has remained out of service since November 2020 after a devastating fire severely damaged its Power Control Module (PCM), forcing the shutdown of the 225MW facility before it could be commissioned and consequently reducing available generation capacity on the national grid.
Following the receipt of all statutory approvals and the resolution of technical, contractual, and administrative bottlenecks, restoration works have now commenced, with the contractor expected to deliver the project within 12 months.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Engr. Adighije commended the project team for its resilience, dedication, and commitment to bringing the project to the execution stage despite years of challenges.
She urged the contractor, consultants, and all stakeholders to work collaboratively throughout the implementation period, stressing that NDPHC would maintain zero tolerance for delays or project slippages.
According to her, the successful restoration of the Gbarain Plant will further strengthen NDPHC’s efforts to improve generation availability, enhance grid stability, and deliver more reliable electricity to Nigerians.
She noted that the project forms part of the company’s broader strategy to maximize existing assets and support the federal government’s objective of improving electricity supply across the country.
The Gbarain Power Plant is one of the gas-fired power stations developed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), a federal government initiative established to bridge Nigeria’s electricity supply gap through investments in power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
Also speaking at the event, NDPHC’s General Manager of Generation Projects, Engr. Ginsau Idris, explained that the Power Control Module was extensively damaged by the fire, making its complete replacement unavoidable.
He expressed confidence in the contractors and consultants, stating that all parties fully understood their responsibilities and remained committed to delivering the project successfully and within schedule.
NDPHC’s Executive Director of Generation, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, recalled that the PCM was destroyed just months before the plant was scheduled for commissioning, describing the incident as a significant setback.
He commended Engr. Jennifer Adighije for providing the leadership that made the revival of the project possible after years of delay.
Kassim further disclosed that complementary infrastructure, including access roads and support buildings, is currently under construction, describing the Gbarain Power Plant as a strategic national asset due to its close proximity to an abundant gas supply.
Schneider Electric/TILT Energy and its Nigerian technical partner have committed to an accelerated implementation schedule, with the rehabilitation expected to be completed within and possibly ahead of the 12-month project timeline.
The Managing Director of TILT Energy Limited, Mr. Deji Awodeji, assured stakeholders that the joint venture would deliver the project on schedule without compromising quality, safety, or international engineering standards.
Since assuming office, the NDPHC management under Engr. Jennifer Adighije has prioritized the recovery of stranded and underutilized generation assets across the company’s power stations through an aggressive program of rehabilitation, operational optimization, and strategic investments.
Upon completion, the restored 225MW Gbarain Power Plant is expected to add significant capacity to the national grid, improve electricity supply, support industrial growth, stimulate economic development, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.