Ansaldo’s first foray in Nigeria announced

Ansaldo Energia will conduct a major overhaul of the 435 MW Geregu Power power plant Ajaokuta, Kogi State, Nigeria.

The three-year contract with Geregu Power Plc is valued at €32 million and includes the supply of spare parts which will be entirely manufactured by Ansaldo Energia in Italy, and the maintenance services, which will be performed by its subsidiary Ansaldo Energia Nigeria based in Lagos. Activities will start in early 2023.

The Geregu Power Plant was constructed by the federal government of Nigeria and commissioned into service in February 2007. The power plant consists of three simple cycle natural gas fired Siemens STG5-2000E gas turbine generator units with a 435MW installed capacity. The Turbine units are GT11, GT12, and GT13 and each is designed to produce 145 MW at 15.75 kV, stepped up to 330 kV via a 173.6MVA power transformer and provides on average 10% of the total electricity generated in Nigeria.

Ansaldo Energia and Geregu Power Plc have agreed to a three-year agreement for the major overhaul of the 435 MW Geregu Power Plc power plant located at Ajaokuta, Kogi State Nigeria. (Image: Ansaldo Energia)

All maintenance services provided by Ansaldo Energia will include on-the-job training and shadowing by the local engineers at the plant ensuring adequate knowledge transfer and strengthening the cooperation between the two companies, the company said. Ansaldo Energia said the contract marks its first foray in the electricity sector of Africa’s most populated nation and a vindication of its decision to set up a local office in 2017. For Geregu Power, this represents the second major overhaul since the acquisition of the plant by Amperion Power Distribution Co.and demonstrates its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted power to the Nigerian people.

“With over 210 million inhabitants, Nigeria is a rapidly growing country resulting in a high demand for energy from highly reliable power plants,” said Stefano Gianatti, executive vice president of Ansaldo Energia. “The decision to invest in a local structure, Ansaldo Energia Nigeria, spins from the need to better manage and monitor the assets and needs of our customers. With our technical skills, the necessary flexibility and the experience gained on similar plants, we can make the best solutions available to this great country, to increase the efficiency and reliability of the installed electricity generation fleet.”

Akin Akinfemiwa, CEO of Geregu Power, added that the signing of the second major overhaul contract for the plant since the acquisition by Amperion demonstrates the belief the shareholders of the company have in the development and growth of the Nigerian electricity sector.

“This represents our continuous investment in our plant, our people, and the community of Ajaokuta ensuring that we remain a reliable source for power generation in the country,” he said.