*Makes case for gas turbines and IPP
By Michael Ilaya
Owing to poor performance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC), Isoko Development Union (IDU) has underscored the need for an alternative energy source for the Isoko nation through Gas Turbines and Independent Power Plants to midwife development in the area and has called for collective efforts to explore the cheaper alternative of converting the gas being flared by the oil exploiting companies in Isoko land to electricity.
President General of Isoko Nation, Professor Christopher Akpotu who convened the meeting last Sunday at the national secretariat of IDU in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, bemoaned the epileptic power supply to Isoko Nation, a situation he said has crippled businesses and negatively impacted social life of the people in the area.
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Akpotu said, efforts made to ensure steady power supply by Isoko people at home and in diaspora over time has failed, adding that series of letters written to oil companies operating in the area and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, were all to no avail and urged that a committee be constituted to proffer immediate solution.
Speaking, the Delta State Commissioner for Energy, Chief Fred Obe assured of his support for any effort to ensure the achievement of steady power supply in Isoko land.
He promised to tap into the expertise of Isoko sons to harness the existing gas flaring in the oil companies by adopting a cheaper option.
Expressing his satisfaction with the initiative, a highly elated Chief Obe promised to work with other Isoko leaders to create an enabling environment for the Isoko people to grow their various businesses.
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“I hereby pledge my full backing and support for the success of this project to provide constant electricity power supply to our people.” chief Obe said.
He observed that unsteady electricity power supply has being a major challenge to the economic development of Isokoland.
To that extent, Isoko traditional rulers have berated oil companies operating in the area for insensitivity to the plight of the people. He added.
Fred Obe urged the people to be focused on the demand for Isoko Turbine from Agip Nigeria Company and Shell Petroleum Development Company operating in the area.
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Sons and daughters of Isoko in the political class, apart from Chief Fred Obe were conspicuously absent from the meeting and this was condemned by the traditional rulers who described their attitude of distancing themselves from the people they represent as ” nonchalant”.
They urged the president general to write a fresh letter of demand and copy all the relevant agencies, stressing that, Isoko need light and the efforts must be sustained.
On his part, one of the consultants contacted, Engr. Michael Ekpo said, one of the challenges of electricity power supply in Isoko Nation was the location of Isoko Nation to the national grid.
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He noted that the oil location clusters of Isoko Nation are not concentrated, unlike Okpai that has close clusters.
Ekpo said, power is expensive and noted that the request for power from oil companies should should be in tandem with the provisions that should include energy clause in the GMOU of the various communities.
He however pledged to work with the committee to find possible solution to the epileptic power supply to Isoko Nation.
In attendance were Presidents-General of the various communities of Isoko Nation, clergymen, traditional rulers, the IDU Patron, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, Rev. Agbauduta and the youth wing of Isoko Development Union, amongst others.
