Edo State has acquired a 10 per cent equity stake in a 200-megawatt independent power project being developed by Edo North Electricity Company Limited.

The move is aimed at expanding local electricity supply and reducing dependence on the national grid.

Paul Usenbo, the state commissioner for power, disclosed the development after the company received its operating licence.

He described it as a major milestone for the project and for power delivery in the Edo North Senatorial District.

According to Usenbo, the company has completed the necessary financial and technical assessments and will now move into the implementation phase.

The Ministry of Power will monitor progress over a 365-day period to ensure timelines are met.

The 200MW plant is expected to increase electricity available in the area, support the national grid and complement the work of distribution companies operating in Edo North. Officials said it would help cushion the effects of inadequate supply from the national grid and improve stability across the senatorial district.

Usenbo noted that the state’s equity participation reflects Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to tackling power challenges.

Nosa Imasuen, Executive Director of Trade and Marketing at Edo North Electricity Company, said the licence would enable the firm to deliver electricity to communities that have long lacked reliable power while strengthening existing infrastructure.