Egbin Power Plant shuts down after contractor dies during underwater repairs

Egbin Power Plc has shut down operations following a fatal industrial accident involving a contractor during an underwater maintenance exercise.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, led to the shutdown of the plant, a major contributor to electricity supply on the national grid.

Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Thursday, the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Felix Ofulue, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

“Immediately following the incident, established emergency response, safety, and reporting protocols were activated, and the relevant authorities were promptly notified,” he said.

Ofulue said the company was cooperating with relevant authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, adding that a review was ongoing.

“Egbin Power remains firmly committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all personnel and contractors, and to maintaining the highest standards across its operations,” he added.

‘How it happened’

A source, who preferred anonymity and familiar with the development, told NAN that the contractor was engaged in specialised underwater work at the plant’s pump house when the incident occurred.

The assignment reportedly involved retrieving or stabilising a submerged pumping machine.

The equipment was said to have unexpectedly powered on while the diver was still within the restricted zone.

“The diver went in to carry out a recovery operation inside the lagoon water pump system. Unfortunately, the pump came on unexpectedly and he was trapped and killed by the impeller,” a source said.

According to the source, the deceased contractor was affiliated with Browndive Underwater Services, a firm known for handling complex underwater industrial operations across Nigeria’s oil, gas, and maritime sectors.

According to the source, operations at the affected section were halted immediately, leading to a broader shutdown of the facility for safety checks and assessment.

“Since April 28, the plant has remained offline and disconnected from the national grid as engineers and safety officials conduct detailed assessments,” the source added.

The plant, with an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts, plays a significant role in the nation’s power generation.