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 the national grid’s electricity supply.

Confirming the development on Thursday, the company’s spokesman, Felix Ofulue, expressed condolences to the deceased’s family.

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

Mr Ofulue said the company was cooperating with relevant authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and added 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,” Mr Ofulue added.

It was learnt 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 reportedly powered on unexpectedly while the diver was still within the restricted zone.

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

Following the contractor’s death, operations at the affected section were halted immediately, leading to a broader facility-wide shutdown for safety checks and assessments.

Checks revealed that since Tuesday, the plant has remained offline and disconnected from the national grid as engineers and safety officials conduct detailed assessments.

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

(NAN)