Alexander Okere, Benin
The Edo State Government on Thursday said that the revamped state-owned fertiliser blending plant in Auchi, Estako West Local Government Area would begin commercial production in June this year.
Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this after inspecting the equipment at the plant, including the production line, storehouse and administrative building, which he said would produce 55,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually.
According to him, while a test run would be done next week, production is expected to begin on June 15.
The governor, who had in February visited the fertilizer plant in company with the Director-General, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (Sovereign Wealth Fund), Mr. Uche Orji, as part of the Presidential Initiative on Fertiliser, ýnoted that the plant had the capacity to produce seven tonnes per hour and provide employment for over 100 persons.
He said, “If you compare the situation now from what we met when we came two months ago, you can see the difference. We have been able to get the technical partners under the Federal Government’s fertiliser programme to start work.
“They have made investment to revamp the place. The equipment has been tested and experts were brought to replace the bad ones. They are also building a new line.”
On how the state government would ensure adequate power supply to the facility, Obaseki said that he had begun discussions with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to provide a dedicated 33kva line, in addition to a standby 500kva generator.
He said, “Security has been beefed up on the premises. The office complex has been cleaned up. We are talking to the BEDC to give a dedicated 33kva line. There is a step down transformer from the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria).
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