The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has pledged to restore the power plant at the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, located in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, noting that the facility could contribute up to 540 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

Adelabu made this commitment during a working visit to the company, where he emphasized that the revival of the plant would not only significantly boost power supply but also create about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.

The Minister expressed disappointment that, 37 years after its establishment, the lack of a dedicated electricity supply had prevented the country from realizing the benefits of the huge investment made in ALSCON.

He announced that a temporary plan to connect the company to the national grid would be undertaken while the government continues to work on providing a long-term power solution.

Adelabu also expressed concern over the dilapidated state of the abandoned 330kV substation in the community, which was built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and was about 90 percent complete before being left unfinished.

Adelabu assured stakeholders that the government would ensure the completion of the substation “within the shortest possible time,” stressing that its completion was the only way to maximize the value of the significant investment in ALSCON.

The Minister recalled the company’s troubled history, noting that ALSCON was conceived in 1989 but not completed until 1998, and following the 2006 privatization exercise, it was taken over by the Aluminium Smelting Company of Russia.

Highlighting the enormous economic loss, Adelabu stated: “These huge investments have suffered due to lack of power supply in the last 27 years,” adding: “We are aware of the enormous potential of a facility like this, in the upstream, midstream, and downstream conversion of aluminium, to create jobs for our youths, supply raw materials to local industries, and save foreign exchange spent on imports.”

He confirmed that the government’s renewed efforts align with its commitment to provide electricity to the majority of Nigerians by 2030, in line with Vision 2030 and the Tanzania Declaration.

He detailed his immediate plan, stating: “I have come to meet with stakeholders, the owners of the company, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NDPHC, and the contractors, to devise immediate and medium-term solutions to ALSCON’s power challenges.”