Blackout in parts of Benin City, Edo State capital, has entered the second week.

Streetlights, government buildings, Edo NUJ secretariat and other subscribers to Ossiomo Power have been in darkness since September 1.

The blackout was occasioned by the shutdown of Ossiomo Power plant in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, due to ownership tussle between Ossiomo Power and its Chinese partners, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).

Ossiomo Power Plant is a 95MW power firm that is gas-fired and was completed in 2020.

The ownership tussle began when CCETC attempted to take over ownership of the firm.

Director General of Edo State Electrification Agency, Omozokpea Egbadon, said the state government had no knowledge or involvement in the decision to shut down Ossiomo Power Plant.

He said plans were on for the state government to switch back to Benin Electricity Distribution PLC (BEDC).

But management of Ossiomo Power said CCETC were not co-owners of the power firm, but its contractor engaged to execute a contract in 2018 for the supply and installation of engines for the Independent Power Project (IPP1).

It said the contract does not transfer or confer ownership of any facility on the Chinese firm.

Deputy General Manager, Francis Ekwe, an engineer, insisted that Ossiomo Power remained the sole owner of the power generating plant, the transmission network, and associated gas infrastructure tied to the project at Ologbo, Edo State.

Ekwe said Ossiomo Power held exclusive rights to the gas infrastructure and power facilities since 2008 and backed by statutory licences as well as approvals for power generation and transmission within Edo State.

He noted that recent moves by CCETC to assert ownership might be aimed at influencing state authorities and creating uncertainty around the operations of Ossiomo Power.

Ekwe warned that any attempt to sideline an indigenous operator in favour of a foreign contractor could undermine Nigeria’s local content policy and pose risks to energy security in Edo State.

Officials of CCETC could not be reached for comments at press time. (The Nation)

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