NERC licenses Notore
...to operate 50mw power plant

From Cobham Nsa, Abuja
Federal Government’s efforts to improve nationwide power generation and distribution has received a boost with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) granting licence to Notore Power Limited to generate 50 megawatts of electricity.
Notore’s addition to the licensing list at the weekend swells the number of private sector operators licensed in the last three years to 29 companies in the power sector.
The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Ransome Owan, who presented the licence to the Chief Technical Officer of Notore in Abuja , said the company must adhere strictly to international best practices and abide by the milestones, terms and conditions for the licence.
Dr. Owan stated that the Commission would effectively monitor the firm’s activities to ensure they were in line with the terms and conditions for which they were certify to participate in the sector.
He said the Commission would not tolerate acts that run foul of the terms and conditions of awards, adding that high premium was being placed on the conditions for the awards of licences to the 29 beneficiaries.
According to him, “The Commission will not hesitate to take immediate and appropriate action in response to breaches by any licensee to serve as a deterrent to other that may want to play pranks with their licences.”
Speaking for his company, Notore’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Charles Odita said they were grateful to NERC for granting them the licence to operate, especially the fact that due process was followed in getting the approval.
“This is a journey that has taken over a year, not because we are slow, but we appreciate the detailed work NERC has to do to ensure international standard is maintained,” Mr. Odita said.
He said the Notore Power Plant uniqueness was being the only one with the plant and gas readily available to commence operation as soon as the licence was issued and added to the fact the project would impact on the power and agriculture sectors of the economy.
“We are strategically positioned. We have the gas and the plant. We just finished the rehabilitation of the plant and we could start running as soon as we hit the ground,” Mr. Odita said.
He said the firm was seriously considering applying for licence to expand its power generation capacity as part of its efforts to contribute to Nigeria ’s power sector needs.
A statement by the Head of Public Affairs, NERC, Mr. Patrick Ayendi in Abuja said Notore would rely on the facilities of defunct National Fertiliser Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), Onne in Rivers State to operate and supply power to Notore Chemical Industries Limited, (formerly NAFCON) as well as the national grid.