Azura IPP synchronizes first turbine

The first turbine of Azura Edo IPP has been synchronized to the national grid and it is expected to undergo a battery of tests over the coming five weeks.

The 459MW Azura-Edo IPP is located in Benin City, Edo State and comprised of three Siemens turbines, each of which is capable of producing 153MW.

The company said in a statement recently that tests on the second turbine would begin at the end of January 2018, with the tests on the third turbine commencing at the beginning of March 2018.

According to the company, the commissioning process will conclude at the end of April 2018 when the plant is scheduled to reach full commercial operations.

It noted that during this four-month commissioning period, the plant will produce over 100,000 megawatt hours of electricity which will be sold by the National Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) to the country’s distribution companies.
 
Deputy Managing Director, Edu Okeke, expressed his pleasure that the commissioning process will start before Christmas: “This festive season is one of the peak periods for electricity consumption in Nigeria and it’s a source of real pride for Azura that we were able to bring our first turbine onto the Grid before Christmas Day.”

Meanwhile, the Ministers of Power and Finance, and their respective Permanent Secretaries, have provided unstinting moral support for the project; whilst His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, has constantly challenged the project team to “work faster, better and safer”.

The success, to date, of the project is also a reflection of the close cooperation and strong and consistent support that it has received from the three local communities of Ihovbor, Orior-Osemwende; and Idunmwowina and from the palace of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.
 
Whilst there is still some way to go and challenges to overcome, the project’s management team is confident that all parties will continue to work together to enable the power plant to reach full commercial operations well ahead of schedule.

Today’s milestone also marks the historic completion of an industry chain where all the links are forged together through commercially negotiated contracts.