No explosion at Zungeru power plant, says management

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, a parent company of Penstock Limited, which is in charge of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State, has refuted claims that there was an explosion at the plant.

There were reports (not by The PUNCH) that the Zungeru power plant was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Monday.

Workers on duty were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and were being attended to at different hospitals, while those seriously affected were said to have been rushed to Minna, the state capital, for more medical attention.

Refuting the rumour in a statement titled: “Fake News of an Explosion at Zungeru Hydro Power Plant.” and posted on X.com on Monday, the management of MESL stated that the plant was intact as it condemned the “false and mischievous report.”

The statement partly read, “The fake news concerning an explosion at the Zungeru Hydropower Plant with resulting casualties published in newspapers on July 1, 2024, and circulated on social media has been brought to our attention.

“We wish to express our strong objection to this false and mischievous report, categorically stating that no such incident occurred.

“This report is not only false but also highly irresponsible and insensitive, given the pervasive nature of insecurity issues in Nigeria.”

In the statement, the board and management of the Zungeru Hydro Power Plant were also said to have reassured the public that “the Zungeru Hydropower Plant is intact and continues to power Nigerian homes and businesses after successfully concluding a 15-day test run that remarkably boosted power supply to the grid.”.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has similarly refuted reports that an explosion occurred at Zungeru Power Plant on Monday.

Eagle Online reports that a statement by Adelabu’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, quoted the Minister as saying that the report of the explosion is a figment of the imagination of the purveyors of such information.

Adelabu was quoted as saying, “I have spoken with the Managing Director of Mainstream Energy, and I can assure you that nothing of such took place in Zungeru. The plant is working, and it continues to supply the grid.

“We have video evidence from Zungeru that nothing like that occurred today, and whoever is interested should go there to find out.”