BY FRANCIS IGATA
ENUGU – In a bid to shore up electricity supply nationwide, the Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to complement power generation using Coal fired power plants.

Speaking with our Correspondent yesterday in Enugu, the Acting Managing Director, Nigeria Coal Corporation, Mr. Ibe Evaristus said, “there is no doubt about Government’s sincerity to use Coal to generate electricity.

It is because it is global trend now. Government had wanted to move away from Gas and Hydro power generation for electricity supplies.

“Government had in the past attempted to bring in Coal in the energy mix. But President Goodluck Jonathan under his ongoing transformation agenda, is more determined than any Government before it, to realize the dream of bringing in Coal into our primary energy mix.

“Part of it is the Coal to Power programme. Under it, about 4,000 MW of electricity is envisaged to be generated through Coal fired power plants.

The Mines/Steel Development Ministry with her Power counterpart are driving this Coal to Power programme. Coal bloc when finally privatized, will be private sector driven for electricity generation.

“There is a Coal bloc in Ezinmo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. A Memorandum of Understanding,MoU,is in place with a the Chinesse HTG-Pacific Energy Consortium for the development of Ezinmo Coal bricks.

People should be patient with Government to drive this programme. Once Coal is brought into our energy mix, it will boost electricity supply, create jobs and contribute significantly in the country’s economic sphere.”