Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has disclosed plans by his administration to commence construction of a 660-megawatt coal-fired power plant in July as part of efforts to strengthen electricity supply and drive economic growth in the state.

Mbah made the disclosure on Wednesday during a solidarity visit by the Organised Private Sector Nigeria (OPSN), Enugu State chapter, at the Government House in Enugu, where the group also endorsed him for a second term.

The governor explained that the project forms part of his administration’s broader strategy to expand the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

According to him, Enugu had already taken significant steps toward establishing its own electricity market following constitutional amendments and provisions in the Electricity Act that moved power generation and distribution from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

“But we have gone beyond just setting up the electricity market to now being interested in producing the electricity here.

“I am pleased to inform you that in July we are going to be breaking ground for a 660MW coal-fired power plant,” Mbah stated.

He added that the project is expected to be completed within 24 months after commencement.

“The outlay in terms of time for building the plant is 24 months. So, our target is to commission that power plant 24 months after the ground-breaking in July.

“What that simply means is that post-2027, you will not have your power go off in Enugu, whether for businesses or for residential.

You are also going to have affordable electricity because it is going to be by far the cheapest in the country,” he said.

Addressing environmental concerns often associated with coal energy, the governor maintained that Enugu possesses one of the highest-quality coal deposits globally, with low sulphur content and high calorific value.

“The interesting thing about our coal is that we have the best quality of coal in the world. Our sulphur content is less than 0.5 per cent.

With one per cent you are happy, but this one is 0.5 per cent. The only country that comes close is Japan.

“So, instead of just exporting our coal, we are going to be benefiting from it by adding value, generating electricity with it,” he added.

Mbah stated that the initiative followed nearly two years of feasibility studies and efforts to secure coal assets capable of sustaining uninterrupted supply to the plant.

He also highlighted other economic initiatives by his administration, including investments in security, the establishment of a one-stop investment centre, construction of a technology incubation hub, and collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission to establish an Artificial Intelligence Institute in the state.

“In four years from now, AI will contribute $20trn to the global economy. We just do not want Enugu State to miss out on such huge funds. We want to be at the epicentre, not just as consumers, but as producers,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Convener of OPSN in Enugu State and Chairman of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), South East Zone, Dr. Ugochukwu Chime, commended the administration’s investment-friendly policies and infrastructural development.

He noted that the governor’s private sector background had positively influenced governance and boosted investor confidence in the state.

Other stakeholders, including representatives of NECA, ECCIMA, and leading business groups, also praised the administration for improving security, infrastructure, transportation, and the overall business climate in Enugu State.