“NDPHC’s CALABAR POWER PLANT SHINES: HOUSE COMMITTEE PRAISES HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has received commendation from the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations for upholding high safety standards at the 565MW Calabar Power Plant in Cross River State. The Committee, led by Hon. David Idris Zacharias, praised the plant’s staff for maintaining a safe working environment during an on-the-spot assessment on Monday .
Key Highlights:
– Significant Improvements: The Committee noted significant improvements in safety standards since its last visit in 2018.
– Positive Impression: Chairman Hon. Zacharias expressed a positive impression of the plant, highlighting the importance of worker health and safety in the power sector.
– Areas for Improvement: The Committee identified areas requiring attention, including better lighting, rest areas for shift workers, and adequate seating in offices.
Committee’s Recommendations:
– Enhanced Work Environment: Improve working conditions for staff, including better lighting and rest areas.
– Safety Protocols: Deepen commitment to safety issues and address observed challenges.
– Government Support: The Committee will take the plant’s challenges to the government, hoping for prompt resolution .
The commendation is a testament to NDPHC’s commitment to safety and operational excellence at the Calabar Power Plant
Emmanuel Ojor
Head, Corporate Communications & External Relations, NDPHC, in a statement, said the Executive Director, Generation, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, who spoke through the General Manager, Generation Projects at NDPHC, Engr. Valerie Agberagba told the committee that safety and standards remain top priority for the company,
She stressed that the company’s workforce is central to its operations, adding that NDPHC would continue to improve the work environment for staff, particularly those at its power plants.
“The visit of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations was very important to us. It gave us the opportunity to assess where we are in terms of health, safety, and compliance with regulations and standards at our power plants.
“For me, it was an eye-opener. You could see that when they compared the 2018 report to what they have now, there has been a great improvement in compliance. This shows that NDPHC is not taking issues of safety, regulations, and environmental standards for granted. We are working towards an environment that is safe for both our workers and the operation of the power plant,” Agberagba said.
She stated that the company has taken note of the areas that need improvements, adding that “this management is very concerned about the welfare of the staff, because if they are not in a good position to work, we are not going to get the best out of them.
“So those little observations have to do with good conditions of work for the staff, we will make sure that these things are taken into consideration in the shortest possible time.”
Also speaking, Ag. Head, Health, Safety and Environment, NDPHC, Austin Ijagem disclosed that the plant has not recorded any work related accident that has led to fatality since it began operations.
“The safety at the power plant has been top notch. Their consultant mentioned that in 2018, when they visited, there were a lot of pending issues and safety concerns that they raised. They have also acknowledged that when they came in today, the difference was clear. A lot of the safety concerns raised in 2018 have been closed out. That means we are getting nearer to almost zero pending issues as far as the safety at the power plant is concerned”, he stated.
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