By George Ozalla
Fresh momentum has returned to the long-troubled Alaoji Power Plant in Abia State as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, moves to restore full operational capacity and push the facility towards completion after years of shutdowns, technical setbacks and delayed timelines.
The renewed drive comes alongside confirmation that the 450 megawatts Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant has been restored following its shutdown in 2023 over gas supply constraints and metering disputes that disrupted operations and triggered suspension of supply by gas supplier TotalEnergies, while outstanding obligations accumulated around the facility.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, FNSE, FCIML, FNIEEE, disclosed this during a meeting with Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, where she briefed him on the interventions carried out to bring the plant back online and stabilise operations at the site.
She further stated that upon assumption of office in 2024, the restoration of the Alaoji facility was prioritised, leading to a series of remedial actions aimed at resolving long-standing technical and commercial disputes affecting gas supply to the plant.
According to her, the company carried out critical repairs on the defective gas line and fully resolved past due obligations owed to TotalEnergies, resulting in the restoration of gas supply to the facility. She added that extensive electromechanical works were also completed, leading to the reactivation of three generating units identified as GT1, GT22 and GT21, which are now available to dispatch about 375 megawatts to the national grid.
During the engagement, she further stated that the plant now has adequate transmission infrastructure with no major evacuation constraints, describing it as a viable generation asset capable of supporting grid stability and improved electricity delivery.
The NDPHC managing director also stressed that the renewed push is part of broader efforts to move the project beyond years of stagnation and ensure full optimisation of the facility for national power supply.
Located in the Alaoji area near Aba, the power station remains one of the key assets under the National Integrated Power Project designed to boost electricity generation and support industrial development across Nigeria.
The plant, originally conceived as a strategic power hub for the South East, has faced repeated delays over funding gaps, contractual issues, technical bottlenecks and infrastructure constraints, leaving its combined cycle component incomplete for years.
When fully completed, including the steam turbine section, the facility is expected to significantly increase generation capacity and strengthen electricity supply to industrial clusters in Aba and surrounding commercial corridors, where businesses continue to rely heavily on alternative power sources.
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, who recently inspected the facility alongside NDPHC management, also urged contractors to avoid further delays and ensure adherence to revised timelines for completion.
Governor Alex Otti had earlier described the Alaoji Power Plant as a critical economic asset for Abia State, noting that reliable electricity remains central to industrial expansion and the competitiveness of Aba as a manufacturing hub.
With parts of the plant now back on stream and new timelines in view, focus has returned to how quickly the remaining works can be pushed through after years of stalled progress.
