The administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole took a significant stride at the  weekend as EDO STATE GOVERNMENT signeda Memorandum of Understanding withAzura  Power (West Africa) Ltd to build a 450MW Independent Power Plant (IPP). 

A statement by the Executive Director, Edo State Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Mr. Igbinidu Inneh said “the IPP, which construction will begin next year will be situated close to Benin City which is a nodal point in the country’s gas pipeline network and its national electricity transmission grid”. 

The power plant will be one of the first independent power projects to be completed after the launch of the “Roadmap for Power Sector Reform” recently announced by President Goodluck Jonathan and is in line with the Oshiomhole’s vision of providing “Light to all nooks and crannies of the State”.

AZURA is a partnership between Amaya Capital Partners, a leading African-focused principal investment firm and Aldwych International, an energy group active in  the growing economies in Africa. AZURA and its business partners have significant experience in the development, construction and operation of power generation and distribution facilities in several countries across Africa including Zambia, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. The partnership has mobilized over $4.5 Billion USD in funding for projects with access to additional funds for investment in Power Sector Projects. 

Signing on behalf of the Edo State Government, Hon Didi Adodo, Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources said “I am absolutely delighted that we can announce this MOU with AZURA today, as it indicates our strong commitment to provide the ordinary people of Edo State and Nigeria rightful access to light and power in their homes and places of work. This new power plant will go a long way towards achieving our vision of All Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural Communities to be provided with reliable electricity supply by being connected to the National Grid by the year 2020”.

Phillip Ihenacho, director of AZURA also said, “We are excited about our partnership with the Edo State Government to build a world class IPP that will provide much needed electricity to the people of Edo State and beyond. We have been impressed with the State Government’s ambition, commitment and desire to move quickly and look forward to starting and delivering this project as soon as possible”.