230MW Ihovbor Plant Back On National Grid After 13 Years

The Ihovbor 230MW power plant has successfully rejoined the national grid after more than a decade-long hiatus, in a major boost to Nigeria’s energy sector.

Nigeria has faced a persistent energy crisis with frequent blackouts and power shortages that have stymied economic growth and hindered the daily lives of millions of citizens.

The re-commissioning of Ihovbor is seen as a significant step towards increasing the country’s electricity generation capacity.

The management of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), led by Jennifer Adighije, managing director/CEO, and Abdullahi Kassim, executive director (Generation), announced the successful restoration of two turbine units at the Ihovbor Power Plant during a visit to the facility in Benin on January 8 2024.

Adighije emphasised that this marks a significant milestone in achieving sector-wide goals under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises access to reliable, affordable, and accessible electricity for all Nigerians.

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“The restoration of these units aligns with the ongoing industry transition to bilateral trading deals.

“We already have offtakers and potential customers eager for the energy we produce, which will enhance the revenue-generating potential of the company,” she said.

Adighije further noted that the earning potential of the NDPHC is directly tied to its generation capacity, underscoring the urgency of restoring all idle units across its power generation portfolio.

“This achievement is a testament to our commitment to accelerating the restoration of generating units, as it remains central to the vision of NDPHC management,” she added.

Advisors Reports has gathered that the Ihovbor Power Plant in Edo State, Nigeria, referred to as Ihovbor 1, is poised to contribute significantly to commercial clusters in Edo state and environs through bilateral power deals, following the restoration of two turbine units.

The plant, commissioned in May 2013, was designed to generate 450MW from four gas turbine units, each with a capacity of 112.5MW.

However, operational challenges, including gas supply shortages and inefficiencies, have plagued the facility, resulting in prolonged downtime.

Further checks by Advisors Reports revealed that as of November 2024, the plant was producing only 73MW—approximately 15 percent of its installed capacity.

Since commissioning, just the two reactivated units of its four units have been operational, supplying around 225MW to the national grid when gas supply is adequate.

The recent restoration of two additional turbine units is expected to increase the plant’s output by 230MW, enhancing its role in meeting the power demands of commercial and industrial clusters in the region.