By Adaobi Nsofor
In a smart move to improve the energy and gas sector of the state, Anambra State Government has declared its intention to partner with GasInvest Limited, a consultant company to Shell Nigerian Gas.
The Chief Executive Officer of GasInvest Limited, Mr Michael Faniran, during his courtesy visit to the MD/CEO, Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited to discuss the Gas and Power Infrastructure masterplan for Anambra State, noted that in developing the Anambra State Energy and Gas Masterplan, some data and inputs need to be captured as the project is data intensive.
He said that a lot of inputs needed to achieve results are categorised into two, which is to actually get the quantum of energy demand in terms of today’s demand and the projected demand for the next 20 to 30 years, and secondly, to know where these demands are located.
According to him: “These two things are very important for the gas masterplan, for us to know how geographically dispersed or configured these demands are, which would allow us to develop the very optimal infrastructure to serve the demand point”.
On the synergy between the company and Anambra State Solid Mineral, Mr Faniran stated that the mining sector requires energy, which is part of their visit to know where these mining sites are located in the state, the benefits of these mineral resources and the location of the processing plants, that would enable them to develop the kind of power requirement and in turn serve as a demand center in terms of developing the energy infrastructure.
Responding, the MD/CEO of Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited (ASSMDCL), Prof.Charles O.Ofoegbu, hinted that there are many mining sites in Anambra, but the new trend is to go downstream, give beneficiations that would add value to our mining sector which requires power to sustain them.
Using the Kaolin Processing Plant at Ukpor as a case study, Prof Ofoegbu emphasised that the plant is a star project of Mr Governor, to prove that we can also beneficiate our solid minerals. He noted that the Kaolin Plant which was abandoned years back has now been refurbished and the civil works completed.
Prof Ofoegbu added that the plan is to produce industrial class Kaolin and pharmaceutical grade Kaolin for medicinal purposes. In addition, he mentioned that the equipment that would be used in running the factory is on ground already, while the commissioning of the project by Mr Governor is slated to hold in the first week of March.
The ASSMDCL Boss further said that a Bentonite Processing Factory is also springing up in Achallagu-Nteje to take care of the huge deposits of Bentonite in the community. He hoped that with the collaborative partnership of the two companies, the state’s energy sector will come to limelight in line with the vision of the Soludo-led administration.
