We’ve paid over N2 billion to CCETC –Ossiomo Power

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has announced that it has paid over N2 billion to its Chinese partner, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) since the power plant started operation in Edo State.

 Recall that a representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had last week claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

The partners had fallen apart over the control of the electricity firm, resulting in power supply to customers being switched off on September 1, 2025.

But during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners at the weekend, a representative of Ossiomo Power Plant, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, adding, “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

He alleged that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partner came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese and another N18 million as salaries to staff which the Nigeria partner declined.

Evbuomwan further alleged that the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.

“The Chinese partner also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest. We are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, the Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

Apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, Engr Evbuomwan announced that Ossiomo has commenced partial power generation and assured that full power generation would be restored soon.

“We have purchased turbines, and one has started working. They are working on the second one. So, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible,” he explained.

The management of Ossiomo Power Plant used the forum of the interactive session to explain that ex-governor Godwin Obaseki has no stake in the company.

Besides, Engr. Evbuomwan stated that the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company. He, however, appealed to the government to allow the company to supply power to customers on its (Government) Iines, just as he urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”