The management of the Ossiomo Power has invited Pakistani Engineers to help it install new turbines for power generation and distribution to its customers.

Its Chinese partners, the Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company (CCETC), on September 1st, shut down its operations, plunging parts of Benin City into darkness.

Ossiomo Power used to generate 95MW of electricity, which powered Edo Government facilities, privates businesses and streetlights.

The Chinese had alleged that Ossiomo Power violated its joint venture agreement in remittances of money realised from customers but the Ossiomo Power said the Chinese were not co-owners but contractors.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City, representative of Ossiomo Power, Engr. Festus Evbuomwan,, said the firm has begun generating power by engaging Pakistani Engineers.

Evbuomwan said the firm would achieve full capacity within 10 days.

He appealed to customers on the 11KVA provided by the state government would not get electricity.

Evbuomwan said the Chinese firm has received over N2bn and later made a move to sideline them.

According to him: “We are not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese is claiming they spent. When they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

“The Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, went to some quarter and raised some issues probably thinking they they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

“The Chinese partner also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over N2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.

“We have purchased turbines, and one has started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately.

“This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible.” (The Nation)

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