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Rivers state developing an alternative economy – Dr. Parker

By on June 24, 2013

The Chairman of Integrated Medical Industries,IMI, Dr. Sampson T. Parker says the Rivers State Government led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is developing an alternative economy that will compete with the current oil based economy.

Dr. Parker, who declared this in Austria at the first test-run of the Integrated Medical Industries,IMI, Power Plant built by GE Jenbacher GMBH and Co, a subsidiary of General Electric said:

“Oil has been good to Nigeria and the Rivers people, but Governor Chibuike Amaechi believes that the best way to sustain the development of Rivers State is to develop an economy that is independent of oil.

That is why the Rivers state government has invested heavily in manufacturing, farming, education, health and energy. We are already seeing the results as youth unemployment is reducing”. Said Parker.

The captive plant with 624, 612 series will provide 14 megawatts of electricity to Integrated Medical Industries Manufacturing plants in Port-Harcourt.

The GE 624 engine which has been described as top of the range will be commissioned in Africa for the first time when it is installed at the IMI factory in Port-Harcourt early next year. The 624 is the world’s first 24- Cylinder engine, making this a double first.

The Integrated Medical Industries,IMI, is a company owned by the Rivers State and Federal Government, although it is wholly financed by Rivers State Government.

The company has embarked on a $275m expansion. While it currently produces about 160 million syringes a year, this figure will rise to 1.3 billion syringes, 1 billion hypodermic needles, 105 million IV-giving-sets, 90 million litres IV solution per annum on completion of expansion in 2014.

IMI is the first manufacture of medicals in sub-Saharan Africa and the 18th in the world to win the coveted WHO-PQS, which is the highest standard in the world.

The IMI directors which included Sampson Parker, Chairman, Wogu Boms and Amenya Wokoma, the project director and CEO were taken on a tour of the Jenbacher manufacturing plant and shown other power plants at early stage of production.

Thomas Achrainer, Head of Jenebacher plant, while welcoming the Rivers State delegation said he was exited to receive them. “Although our 6 series have been in the market for over six years, this is the first time we are shipping the 624 gas engine to Africa”.

After watching the test-run of the IMI 624 engine, Dr. Sampson Parker said, “we cannot wait to receive and put these engines to use in our factory. Everything is coming together and we are confident that the expansion programme of the factory is on the right course”.

The test result and certificates were handed to the Rivers State team.

Jenbacher was bought in 2003 by GE, a company founded by Thomas Edison.

Jenbacher has been operating from the same area in Austria for about 800 years.

GE Jenbacher is represented by Clark Energy in Nigeria.