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The Delta State Government says it has executed a total of 115 electrification projects in the State since May 2015.
Besides, it has also signed a total of four memoranda of understanding (MoU) with foreign investors geared towards generating sustainable power supply.
The Commissioner for Energy, Mr. NewWorld Safugha, made this known when he briefed journalists in Asaba on the activities and achievements of his Ministry at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba.
Giving a breakdown of the projects, the commissioner said that while 83 of the projects were executed by the Ministry of Energy at the sum of N3.970, 903,110.76, the Rural Development Agency executed 32 at the cost of N507, 025.50.
Barr Safugha said that although the power sector had been privatized and it was now in the purview of the private sector to provide electricity, the State Government had intervened because of the exigency in the sector and its commitment to engendered prosperity for all.
He announced that in the area of electric power supply, the State Government in its intervention efforts facilitated the reconnection of communities to the National Grid, reinforced, rehabilitated and upgraded electricity power supply infrastructures throughout the State.
He listed some of these projects to include the conversion of street lights operating stations from generator-powered in Asaba Metropolis, Warri, and Effurun, Oghara Metropolis, Sapele and Ughelli to 33KV public utility.
The Energy Commissioner further said that the Delta State Government had reactivated a good number of transformer powered streetlights across the state which include the installation of 500KVA soundproof Caterpillar generator for Oporaza Town in Warri South-West Local Government Area; 150KVA and 50KVA soundproof Perkins generator set (Mikano) at the official residence of the DSS, Asaba and the Palace of the Obi of Owa in Ika North-East Local Government Area respectively.
Others included Provision and installation of 500KVA soundproof CAT generators and construction of Low Tension (LT) Distribution Network at the temporary site of the Nigerian Maritime University, kurutie in Gbamaratu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area.
Also the provision and installation of 250KVA, 150KVA and 30KVA soundproof Perkins generator at the former Office of the Deputy Governor along DBS road, Asaba, Governor’s Lodge, Warri and at the Control Tower of the Asaba International Airport, Asaba respectively.
He also stated that Soundproof Perkins Generators were Supply and Installed at Government House, Asaba; the Deputy Governor’s New Office in the Old Government House, Asaba and Deputy Governor’s Lodge, Asaba.
The Ministry also installed New extended streetlights using 200Watts LED fittings from Amukpe/NTA roundabout to Total Filling station at Okirighwre Junction in Sapele Metropolis to boost the street light in that community.
On Energy Renewable Development, the Commissioner stated that the Delta State Government was focusing on renewable energy activities that were strategic to the realization of the present administration’s SMART agenda.
To this end, Barr Safugha said the State Government had managed to forge ahead with several innovations, All-In-One Technology, that had kept a good number of the solar streetlights in the State in good condition.
He disclosed that some solar projects awarded, though still under various stages of execution and completion were the installation of LED All-In-One Solar Streetlights at Okerenkoko; installation of All-In-One LED Solar Streetlights at Old Lagos Asaba Road, Agbor and installation of All-In-One LED Solar Streetlights at Owa-Ekei Asaba Road.
Others are the installation of All-In-One LED Solar Streetlights at Old Lagos Asaba Road, Agbor and rehabilitation of Solar Streetlights at Owa-Alero Ika North-East Local Government Area.
He also said that there was an installation of a Pilot 3x10KVA Solar PV Power Generating System complete with Inverters and Battery Bank for broken down streetlights fitted with 60watts Energy saving LED lamps at DDPA Housing Estate, Asaba and the installation of 12 100watt Solar powered and 25KVA Inverter system at Owa Alero General Hospital Ika North-East Local Government Area.
On the signing of MoUs, Safugha said what was signed included the construction of 100MW solar Power Plant at Otulokpo Umunnede, Delta State with Yutai Li Nigeria Limited; the construction of 50MW Solar Power Plant in Delta State by Atlas Projects Limited; construction of 50MW Solar Power Plant at Evwreni Delta State by Spurmore International limited and the construction of 8.5MW Gas-fired Power Plant (IPP) at Asaba by Bastanchury Power Solutions Limited.
He disclosed that the process of signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trade (NBET) Plc had hindered the commencement of the Projects.
Mr Safugha, a lawyer, also stated that in order to facilitate and sustained conducive working condition of its workforce, the Ministry on behalf of the State Government had paid BEDC Bills for government offices and residential quarters amounting to N109.7 million, since May 2015 to date.

He said that the State Government had resolved to exploit all financing options in the development of energy projects through Public-Private Partnerships due to the massive investment cost requirement for projects/programmes.
The State Government would engage in capacity building of Engineers/Technical officers of the Ministry and RDA through an implementation of Direct Labour projects to facilitate the honing of their skills to realize the set objectives/targets of lifting Delta State from the present energy situation to the envisioned scenario especially following the deregulation of the power sector.