The Edo State Government has granted electricity transmission and distribution licences to CCETC Ogua Energy Limited, clearing a critical regulatory hurdle for the completion of its 100-megawatt (MW) power project in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.
The state government expressed confidence that the flagship independent power project will be completed and commissioned before the end of December 2026, boosting local industrialization and grid reliability.
Edo State Commissioner for Power, Paul Usenbo, disclosed the regulatory milestone in Benin City on Saturday while presenting the official licence certificates to the management of CCETC Ogua Energy.
According to Usenbo, the project successfully passed its first critical phase in July 2026 after satisfying technical evaluations, environmental assessments, and compliance protocols set by state energy regulators.
“The expectation is that CCETC Ogua Energy Limited will complete the remaining phase of the 100-megawatt power project in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and proceed to commissioning by the end of 2026,” Usenbo stated.
With Phase 1 concluded, construction and installation activities have shifted entirely to the second and final phase. Major civil works and equipment installations are expected to reach substantial completion by October 2026, barring unforeseen logistics or regulatory delays.
The commissioner noted that critical power-generation equipment and heavy machinery are currently being delivered to the Ikpoba-Okha site for immediate mounting and grid synchronization.
Despite the firm December target, Usenbo signaled administrative flexibility, assuring the developers that the state would offer timeline extensions if unexpected technical bottlenecks emerge during integration.
“If there are any challenges faced by this project, I will give an extension of time,” Usenbo said, noting that commissioning could shift to the first quarter of 2027 if technical demands require additional testing windows.
However, state officials maintain an optimistic outlook based on current site execution speeds and equipment arrivals.
The 100MW plant represents a central pillar in Edo State’s broader strategy to capitalize on Nigeria’s decentralized electricity legal framework. By issuing operational transmission and distribution licences locally, Edo aims to build an autonomous power ecosystem capable of directly supplying industrial clusters, commercial hubs, and residential zones in and around Ikpoba-Okha.
State authorities confirm that technical supervision will remain active throughout the final phase to ensure safety compliance and seamless integration into the regional distribution network before the end-of-year target.
