Crown Resources Development Co. Ltd (CREDCO) has refuted claims labeling the Katsina Wind Farm project as a failure, describing them as false. Addressing journalists in Lokoja, CREDCO’s Managing Director and CEO, HRH (Dr.) Barny Adeku Ojiah, emphasized the project’s progress despite challenges encountered.
Ojiah, a respected figure in Kogi State, stated, “Contrary to assertions, the Katsina Wind Farm project has seen significant milestones. Out of the 37 turbines, 31 have been successfully commissioned despite initial hurdles, including the unfortunate kidnapping of the expatriate commissioning Engineer, Mr. Francis Collumb, which led to a declaration of force majeure by the OEM VERGNET SA of France.”
He continued, “These turbines, each with a capacity of 275kW, have undergone rigorous testing and are contributing power to the grid since 2019/2020, as evidenced by the meters at the Wind Farm and TCN.”
Highlighting challenges faced, Ojiah mentioned factory defects and vandalism affecting some turbines, in addition to administrative delays in approving a technical audit conducted in collaboration with VERGNET SA.
Acknowledging government support, he noted, “The Federal Executive Council approved procurement of spare parts to address operational and maintenance challenges, signaling commitment to the project’s success.”
In conclusion, Ojiah affirmed, “Despite setbacks, the Katsina Wind Farm project is not a failure. The successful commissioning of the majority of turbines, ongoing maintenance, and government backing demonstrate our commitment to sustainable clean energy generation in Nigeria.”
