LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Head of Corporate Affairs at Egbin Power Plc, Felix Ofulue, has confirmed that a fatal underwater maintenance accident forced the plant to shut down, cutting off electricity supply to parts of the country.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday, April 28, when a contractor died during an underwater maintenance task at the facility.
This prompted Egbin Power, one of Nigeria’s largest power plants with an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts supplying the national grid, to halt all operations until the issue is resolved.
Ofulue expressed sympathy to the victim’s family, explaining that the company is working closely with authorities to understand what caused the accident.
“Immediately following the incident, established emergency response, safety, and reporting protocols were activated, and the relevant authorities were promptly notified,” he said via a statement on Thursday.
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He added that a full review is already in progress to determine what caused the incident and provide solutions to prevent future reoccurrence.
“Egbin Power remains firmly committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all personnel and contractors, and to maintaining the highest standards across its operations,” Ofulue added.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the situation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the contractor was carrying out specialized underwater work at the plant’s pump house.
The task reportedly involved recovering or securing a submerged pumping machine.
Notably, the deceased contractor worked with Browndive Underwater Services, a company known for handling complex underwater operations in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and maritime sectors.
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According to the agency’s report, the situation turned tragic when the equipment suddenly switched on while the diver was still in a restricted area.
“The diver went in to carry out a recovery operation inside the lagoon water pump system. Unfortunately, the pump came on unexpectedly and he was trapped and killed by the impeller,” the source said.
In response to the incident, activities at the affected section were immediately stopped. This action later led to a complete shutdown of the facility to allow for safety inspections and technical checks.
“Since April 28, the plant has remained offline and disconnected from the national grid as engineers and safety officials conduct detailed assessments,” the source added.
Ultimately, its shutdown could have a noticeable impact on electricity supply while investigations and safety reviews continue.
(NAN)
