As Bayelsa State prepares for its thirtieth anniversary since creation, stakeholders in the power sector have called on the state government to expand the existing 60-Megawatt gas turbine facility to guarantee statewide electricity coverage.
The call was made during a roundtable on power infrastructure and its value chain held in Yenagoa organized by the South-South Re-Awakening Group.
The event brought together key industry actors, traditional rulers, policy and financial experts, scholars, and media practitioners.
Setting the tone for deliberations, the host and convener of the South-South Re-Awakening Group, Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo, described electricity as the primary catalyst for industrialization and economic growth. While commending the state government for establishing the 60-Megawatt gas turbine in Yenagoa, he stressed the need to transition Bayelsa into a sustainable 24-hour power economy.
“Without power, you cannot industrialize. Power is everything… As we celebrate, let us not be lost in the euphoria. There’s more work to be done in Bayelsa State. We should start now to begin the plan for the future. How do we, and where do we want to be in the next 30 years in terms of industrial development and deployment of power resources to better the lives of our people? .” Ambakederimo stated.
Also, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, highlighted reliable electricity as a key driver for economic expansion and a tool to curb social vices such as cultism and crime.
“Power is the bedrock, the foundation for sustainable industrialization… Bayelsa is leading in this regard as a state with 60 Megawatts of gas turbine that will guarantee 24-hour electricity to the people. It means that we must all seize this opportunity, grow our businesses, and then maximize output…”. King Dakolo asserted.
On infrastructure development, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Engineer Olice Kemenanabo, emphasized that power generation alone is insufficient without strong distribution and transmission networks.
“The power system, particularly generation, is only as strong as its weakest link… The value chain must therefore be planned and operated as one integrated system. That comes to the investment aspect of it…”, Kemenanabo averred.
Addressing regulatory oversight, the Director-General of the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, reassured consumers of continuous efforts to sustain power availability and address service complaints.
Electricity has improved over time… Our business is to make sure that Bayelsa has electricity. How do we do that? We coordinate generators, distributors, consumers to make sure everybody speaks one common language…” she affirmed.
In a communique read by the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Charles Eni-Umukoro, the roundtable advocated policy consistency, legislative backing for energy infrastructure, a specialized task force against vandalism, and the expansion of the 60-Megawatt system.
The event featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by veteran journalist Daniel Abia, focusing on emerging opportunities within the state’s electricity value chain.
Panelists included the Dean, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Professor Francis Sikoki, Director General of the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency, Dr. Roselyn Dressman, Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo represented by the Director of Operations, Engr. Steve Bubagha and an Investment and Advisory Professional, Mr. Ebipere Clark.