American Firm Commits $130m in Nigeria’s Power Sector

Azura Power Holdings Limited, the company responsible for developing the 450megawatt Azura-Edo power project in Edo State, has stated that American Capital Energy & Infrastructure (ACEI) had committed to invest up to $130 million in the power project.

With a goal of becoming the leading power development company in West Africa, Azura said it would utilise ACEI’s investment to fund the first and second phases of the Azura-Edo power project, pursue its greenfield development pipeline and future acquisitions, expand its team, and grow its construction and operational capabilities.  

Commenting on the proposed investment, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of ACEI, Mr. Paul Hanrahan, said his company was pleased to announce its investment in Azura.

He described the gesture as a good example of the type of investment in high growth platforms in the energy infrastructure space that his company was targeting.

“Our investment is in recognition of the significant progress made by the Azura co-founders on the first phase of the Azura-Edo power project, the growth opportunities in the Nigerian and West African markets, and our confidence in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s power sector reform programme,” he said.

ACEI Director of Africa Investments, Lisa Pinsley, stated that in line with the company’s Power Africa efforts, ACEI was investing in the leading independent power producer platform in this key African market.

“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with one of the highest growth rates in the world.  With a current population of over 170 million, the seventh largest in the world, Nigeria’s expanding economy suffers from a lack of power infrastructure.  The United Nations estimates that Nigeria’s population will reach 230 million within the next 20 years, and the total grid-based power generation capacity must rise tenfold to 40,000MW to meet the demand. Azura is, and will continue to be, a key driver in this growth in capacity,” Pinsley said.

In a joint statement, co-founder of Amaya Capital Partners, the lead sponsors of Azura, Mr. Sundeep Bahanda, and Managing Director of Azura, Dr. David Ladipo, stated that ACEI’s investment would exert a transformative impact on their business and accelerate Azura’s drive to create a flagship, multi-asset, power generation company.

“The development of Nigeria’s electricity supply industry is a vast undertaking that requires a long term commitment from all parties.  Together with ACEI, the Federal Government of Nigeria, state governments and our partners and advisers, we are committed to the creation of an indigenous world class business that will provide electricity to the people of Nigeria and, in so doing, will boost the country’s industrial growth, its job creation and its social welfare,” the statement added.

The Azura-Edo power project is a proposed 450MW open cycle gas turbine power station being developed near Benin City in Edo State and represents the first phase of a 1,000MW power plant facility.

Azura and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc signed a groundbreaking power purchase agreement on April 22, 2013, which is being used as a template for other project-financed independent power producers in the country.

The transaction has been showcased by President Goodluck Jonathan as critical to the Nigerian power sector reform process.

The first phase of the plant, which is targeted to come on stream in 2016/2017, is forecast to create over 1,000 jobs during its construction and operation.

The project is expected to have a positive impact on the industrial and social wellbeing of the area, leading to further economic development and job creation. 

In June 2013, ACEI joined Power Africa, a United States Government initiative launched by President Obama that is focused on supporting economic growth and development in Africa by increasing clean and reliable access to electrical power. 

The United States Government along with the governments of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania, and private sector partners have coordinated to accelerate and spur investments in the continent.

Source: ThisDayLive