The new management of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), a technical partner of the Egbin Power Station in Ikorodu, has promised to provide an additional generation plant to boost its capacity to 1,350 mega watts.
Gyoo Chull-Yeom, the Managing Director of KEPCO, who gave the assurance during a facility tour of the plant by journalists, assured that, there were plans to provide an additional projected capacity of 1,350 mega watts, during the year.
Chull-Yeom said that the new management also intends to collaborate with the New Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC), the Nigerian partners, to restore Egbin to its installed capacity of 1,320 mega watts.
He said that when completed, the station was expected to have 2,670 mega watts, with the aim of achieving a total capacity of over 10, 000 mega watts in the next decade, if the demand permit.
According to him, “our relationship with Nigeria over the year has shown that the nation is filled with resilient and resourceful people, who are driven by a spirit of entrepreneurship that ranks among the best in the world.’’
“Yes, there are challenges bordering on infrastructure and human capital that will require time to overcome.
“We will need the patience and support of all Nigerians as we work towards overcoming these challenges with innovation, commitment and determination. We see a future where Nigeria will become an exporter of power. This is possible with our collective resolve.’’
Chull-Yeom said Kepco was a company at the cutting edge of using the most recent and effective technologies to ensure sustainable, efficient and safe generation and delivery of power.
He said that Kepco was amongst the largest nuclear power exporting companies and was also involved in every form of generation from wind, thermal, coal, solar, mass, hydro and renewable energy.
“It is our desire to work with our counterparts here, using technology that is best suited to Nigeria, to deliver world class services in power generation, and ultimately, to other parts of Africa.
“With our discipline and technology, we are confident that our partnership here in Nigeria will produce records that will be notable globally.
“Already, we have begun a review of the infrastructure and processes at the Egbin power plant and the Ikeja Distribution Company. This is an ongoing process aimed at setting the foundations for world-class services to our customers,” he added.
Chull-Yeeom assured the workers that the management was working with the consortium to establish a framework for robust learning and development programmes for staff.
He added that those training activities will facilitate the adoption of new technologies and empower staff with up-to-date knowledge of global trends in the sector, whilst maintaining a safe environment.