Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3.1 PROJECT OVERVIEW
3.1.1 Project Background
Azura Power, a subsidiary of Amaya Capital Limited (‘Amaya’), is proposing
the construction of the Azura-Edo IPP in Edo State, Nigeria.
The first phase of the Project will comprise:
• a 450 MW (net) gas-fired power plant;
• a short transmission line (less than 1 km) connecting the power plant to
the Benin North Substation, which is located adjacent to the Project Site;
and
• a short underground gas pipeline spur (circa 1 km in length) connecting
the power plant to the country’s main gas trunk line, the Escravos Lagos
Pipeline System (ELPS) (1) .
The Project and this EIA do not include the Benin North Substation which is
currently being constructed under the management of the National Integrated
Power Project (NIPP). This substation was initiated and funded prior to the
establishment of Azura Power. The construction and operation of the Benin
North Substation is not dependent upon the Azura-Edo IPP.
3.1.2 Project Site
The Project site (Site) is located in the north-eastern outskirts of Benin City in
Edo State, in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Site is located adjacent to
the Ihovbor Power Plant, which is currently under construction under the
auspices of the NIPP.
The Site will comprise a total area of 102 ha. The power plant will require
approximately 12.5 ha of this total area (Figure 1.1). The OCGT will be
constructed in such a way so as to allow for potential conversion to a CCGT if
and when such a conversion is deemed economically viable.
3.1.3 Land Acquisition Process
The Edo State Government is partnering with Azura Power in the
development of the Project and its principal contribution thereto is the
provision of the land upon which the power plant will be constructed. The
transfer of this land to the Azura Power commenced in 2010 following the
(1) Although the gas spur line is considered an associated facility, this will be constructed not by Azura Power but by the
gas supplier. This EIA includes the assessment of the impacts associated with the short gasline spur.
AZURA EDO IPP
3-1
DRAFT EIA REPORT