Egbin Power plant has shut down following the death of a contractor during an underwater maintenance operation at the power plant.
According to reports by News Agency of Nigeria, the incident happened on Tuesday while the contractor was carrying out specialised repairs at the plant’s pump house.
A company spokesperson, Felix Ofulue, said emergency response, safety, and reporting procedures were activated immediately after the accident, and authorities were notified. He added that the company is cooperating with investigators to establish the exact cause.
Sources familiar with the incident said the diver had entered the lagoon water pump system to recover or stabilise submerged equipment when a pump unexpectedly powered on. The diver was reportedly trapped by the impeller and died at the scene.
The deceased contractor was said to be affiliated with Browndive Underwater Services, a company involved in underwater industrial operations in the oil, gas, and maritime sectors.
Operations at the affected section were halted immediately, with the broader facility taken offline for inspections and safety assessments. Since April 28, the plant has reportedly remained disconnected from the national grid.
Egbin Power Plc has an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts and is one of the most significant contributors to electricity generation in Nigeria. The shutdown could place additional strain on the country’s already fragile power supply system.
