Yenagoa -Indication has emerged that the new gas turbine awaited to supply electricity to Yenagoa and other parts of Bayelsa State, will not commence test-running this December ending, as earlier assured by the state government.
This is coming from the Bayelsa State Electricity Company (BSEC), which issued a statement to douse rumour of the test-transmision, explaining also, why the deadline was no longer feasible.
The statement signed and issued by Engr. Olice D. Kemenanabo, Managing Director of the BSEC and the Technical Team Lead for the installation of the turbine, attributes the likelihood of not test-running the turbine to logistic delay in shipping vital parts that were still expected to complete the coupling of the entire system.
Kemenanabo stated however, that the expected parts have arrived Nigeria, and would soon be received in Bayelsa State, assuring that the engineering team would complete the installation and commence test-transmision, when completed.
“Before proceeding, I respectfully wish to join His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri and the government and people of Bayelsa State as well as Nigerians at large in expressing my heartfelt condolence to the immediate family of our late Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; dynamic and resourceful leader whose service and legacy will remain deeply valued.
“This statement is issued to address the missed December timeline earlier pronounced by His Excellency, the Governor, regarding the delivery of a 24-hour power supply through the deployment of the State’s Independent Power System.
“It is important to clarify that the timeline communicated by the Governor was based entirely on technical schedules and delivery projections jointly evaluated and provided by us. His Excellency relied, in good faith, on the projections submitted, and the responsibility for meeting those timelines rested squarely with us and the Messrs Jampur team that is responsible for a chunk part of the project especially the offshore items.
“In further demonstration of his unflinching commitment, the Governor ensured full financial backing for the project, removing funding as a constraint at every stage of procurement, shipment, and implementation. Beyond financial support, His Excellency personally constituted and chaired a high-level committee to curtail bureaucratic tendencies, fast-track approvals, and ensure effective inter-agency coordination—an extraordinary intervention that significantly reduced administrative delays.
“All the machines were successfully procured, and six of them were delivered via a chartered shipment and installation commenced immediately, based on firm assurances that the remaining two units and other critical accessories would arrive within the projected timeframe. Unfortunately, the final shipment, dispatched under a standard consignment with clear ETAs indicating timely arrival, experienced subsequent ETA revisions arising from operational and logistics factors beyond our direct control. In other words, we were at the mercy of the shipping line. Fortunately, these two machines arrived on the 19th of December, 2025 and efforts are in top gear for their clearance and haulage to Bayelsa
“Despite these challenges, we remain committed to transparency and to delivering on the power transformation agenda of the Assured Hope Administration. Further updates will be communicated as installation and commissioning progresses”, the company reassured.
Meanwhile, to ensure effective service delivery when the turbine begins operation, Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has constituted Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Board, optimistic that the project would be completed soon, despite the logistic hiccough.
Bayelsans, especially residents in Yenagoa, had been anxious to see the turbine supply electricity before end of this month as severally promised by the governor and the company, but for the delay in shipping of the parts being expected to arrive the state.
