Operations at the Egbin Power Plant have been suspended following the death of a contractor during an underwater maintenance operation.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at the facility, one of Nigeria’s key contributors to electricity generation on the national grid. In response, the plant was shut down to allow for safety checks and investigations.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Felix Ofulue, confirmed the development and extended condolences to the family of the deceased.
He explained that emergency response procedures were immediately activated after the incident, while relevant authorities were notified without delay. According to him, the company is working closely with regulators to determine the exact cause of the accident, with a comprehensive review already underway.
Ofulue reiterated the company’s commitment to maintaining strict safety standards and ensuring the well-being of its staff and contractors.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the contractor was carrying out a specialised underwater task at the plant’s pump house, which involved recovering or stabilising a submerged pumping system.
During the operation, the equipment reportedly powered on unexpectedly while the diver was still within a restricted area, trapping him in the process.
“The diver entered the lagoon pump system for a recovery task, but the pump suddenly came on and he was caught by the impeller,” a source disclosed.
The deceased was said to be associated with Browndive Underwater Services, a company known for handling complex underwater industrial operations in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and maritime sectors.
Following the incident, activities at the affected section were halted immediately, leading to a full shutdown of the facility for safety inspections.
Since April 28, the plant has remained offline and disconnected from the national grid as engineers and safety officials carry out detailed assessments.
With an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts, the Egbin Power Plant is a major component of Nigeria’s power supply system, making the shutdown significant for electricity generation.
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