Tony Edike
16 June 2011
Enugu — The Enugu State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with an Indian Power Company, ESSAR Group for the construction of a Coal Power Plant capable of producing 600 Megawatts (MW) of power.
Governor Sullivan Chime who signed the document in Abuja on behalf of the state Government said the MOU was the climax of extensive research, consultations and negotiations between the state government and ESSAR Group adding that the project will give birth to a new dispensation of advancement in the state.
He disclosed that the plant to be sited in Enuguwould use coal sourced from mines in the state to generate power, stressing that it would help in no small measure to alleviate the sufferings of the people occasioned by poor power supply.
The governor further expressed confidence that ESSAR Groupwas well-equipped to perform its obligations under the MOU, adding that the partnership between the company and the state government was bound to yield the expected returnsfor both parties.
Responding, the leader of the ESSAR Group delegation, Mr. Ranjit Matharoo commended the state government for its vision in accepting the proposal to establish the plant saying that it would further encourage private foreign investment in the state.
Matharoo who is the Vice President (Business Development) of ESSAR Group assured the Governor that the company had requisite experience in the development and operation of coal based power plants,adding that it had been running similar operations in many other countries.
He observed that the state stood to reap tremendously from the surge in business and commercial activities that significant improvement in power supply was bound to trigger, stressing that the abundant supply of coal available in the state would ensure that the plant’s continued operation for many years.
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