The Executive Director, Corporate Relations of the ETA-Zuma, Mr Joseph Ayalogu, on Friday said the company will start generating 300 megawatts of power from coal to reduce power deficit.
speaking in Abuja, Ayalogu said the company, which engaged in coal mining, had concluded arrangements to start constructing the power plant before the end of 2016.
He said the company got licence to provide 1,200 mega watts but it would start with 300 due to huge capital required for the project.
He said that the company would be sited at Itobo community in Kogi and it would be completed within 13 months.
According to him, the company is currently mining coal for sale and for the power project sited at okobo community close to Itobo.
He also said that the company was aware of both health and environmental hazards associated with the coal project, adding that the company had initiated plans on how to manage wastes from the plant.
He said coal to power was the best for Nigerian industries; the country has the best coal compared to other countries currently operating on the system.
“Power from coal is baseline power that is needed for industries; our industries need heavy power and that is what coal to power can give.
“Our government policy is to generate 30 per cent power needed from coal and other percentage will be generated from other sources, including renewable energy.
Germany develops 40 per cent of its energy needs from coal which is over hundreds of thousands mega watts.
