From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has inaugurated an 11-member committee to fast-track the full recovery and resumption of operations at the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), which has remained dormant for over 25 years.
ALSCON, located in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, became non-operational due largely to unreliable electricity supply and unresolved ownership issues. However, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to revive the facility as part of broader efforts to stimulate economic growth, deepen industrialisation and create jobs.
In October last year, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, visited the plant and pledged to connect it to the national grid, noting that 37 years after its establishment, Nigeria had yet to benefit from the massive investment due to a lack of alternative power supply.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, Adelabu described the project as critical to national development, stressing that when fully operational, ALSCON would add about 540 megawatts of electricity to the grid while providing direct and indirect employment for nearly 15,000 Nigerians.
“It is the desire of the Federal Government to see that ALSCON begins operation. Power is a critical enabler for continuous operation in the plant and could lead to economic growth. It will increase local capacity and create jobs for our people. So, we need to accelerate activities, avoid delays and work collaboratively to achieve this desired result”, the minister said.
The committee comprises three members from ALSCON, two from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), two from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), two from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and two from the Federal Ministry of Power.
Also speaking, the representative of UC Rusal, the majority shareholder of ALSCON, Viacheslav Krylov, said the company was ready to work closely with the Federal Government to address power supply challenges facing the plant.
He disclosed that ALSCON has an in-built 540MW gas-fired turbine power plant for its operations, adding that surplus electricity would be supplied to the national grid. Krylov emphasised the need for a grid connection to ensure uninterrupted operations during disruptions in gas supply.
Under its terms of reference, the committee is expected to fast-track the connection of 132kV transmission lines, including completion of the Itu-Aba and Itu-Calabar lines, produce status reports and Single Line Diagrams (SLDs), and conduct joint commissioning, including determining funding requirement.
The committee will also work on connecting 330kV transmission lines to ALSCON by developing funding frameworks, producing project status reports and SLDs, and carrying out joint commissioning.
The Federal Government expressed optimism that the revival of ALSCON would significantly boost Nigeria’s industrial output, strengthen the power sector and ands of jobs for Nigerians.
