The federal government has said that an additional 600MW is to be added to the National grid by December 2011, thereby meeting the target it set for itself for December, this year.

The 600MW is coming from Shiroro Hydro power station where an abandoned unit is being overhauled and made ready for operation.

Chief Executive Officer, Shiroro Hydro power station, Daudu Abdulaziz, stated this yesterday in Shiroro when the Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku, made a routine tour of the station.
Excited Ishaku commended the efforts of the CEO and staff in overhauling of the gas turbine, and advised the workers to ensure that they are part of the history in the making in the sector.

He told them that the use of the biometric verification was in line with similar practices in established democracies.

On the issue of privatization, he told the workers that the Federal Government’s privatisation exercise is with a human face, and urged the workers to ensure that the shares allotted to them in the privatised entities are fully made use of.

On the unbundling of the PHCN, he noted that technical staff would be needed to continue the work, hence the setting up of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) for training of personnel in the power sector, adding that the Government is making the Institute a world class manpower capacity building establishment for a sector that will determine the growth and development of Nigeria.

Ishaku noted that the deployment of soldiers to the stations nationwide is because of government’s proactive response to security of lives and properties of its citizens, stressing that “no responsible government will fold its arms and relax on security on its huge investments”.

During the visit, the Minister was informed that workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), have received their letters of salary increase; barely 24 hours after the Federal Government signed an Agreement with the labour unions to pay the outstanding claims, including the payment of 50 per cent salary increase with effect from June 1, 2011.

Chairman of the PHCN labour union (Shiroro chapter), Mohammed Nagya, an engineer, who disclosed this, also stated that “the fear of the unknown creates anxiety among the workers”.

He told the Minister that the workers are responsible citizens of Nigeria and would not destroy what they have labored to build for betwen 20 and 30 years.

He further stated that 50 per cent of the workers carried out the overhaul exercise of the power station and therefore urged the government to show interest in the capacity building of its workers.

SOURCE :NIGERIAN COMPASS