The feuding Chinese firm, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) and the Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited, have submitted themselves to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) for mediation in the dispute between them over ownership of the power plant.
Counsel to Ossiomo Power, Emmanuel Usoh, confirmed the arbitration hearing in Singapore at a press conference in Benin City on Tuesday.
The SIAC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides expedited arbitration services to the global business community. It supports and serves international businesses seeking to resolve disputes. SIAC administers arbitration under its own rules or arbitration and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that both companies entered into a joint venture to establish the CCETC-Ossiomo Power Company (COPC) which birthed the first Independent Power Plant (IPP) at Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha local government area.
The power plant produced 95MW which delivered 24 hours electricity to its customers in Benin City and environs.
About five years after, dispute broke out over ownership which led to the shut-down of the power plant by the Chinese company on September 1, 2025.
While Ossiomo power is laying claims to owning the company 100 percent, CCEC insisted it owns 75% and Ossiomo, 25%.
The consequent disruption of electricity supply to consumers forced the Edo State government under Governor Monday Okpebholo to retrace its steps to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) which it had disconnected from fiver years ago due to epileptic power supply and foisting of ‘crazy’ bills on customers.
The Obaseki administration had connected to the Ossiomo Power through its 11kva it built to receive 5MW of electricity. While business owners that connected to Ossiomo Power through the 11kva lines are yet to get power supply, the power plant has restored electricity to its 33kva lines.
The Ossiomo Power had on Tuesday secured an interim injunction from a Benin High Court restraining CCETC from accessing its premises or utilising any of its properties pending the determination of a motion on notice filed by Usoh.
Justice Mary Itsueli, Edo State High Court vacation judge, had ordered that “The Defendant, whether by itself, privies, assigns and anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from accessing, utilising the infrastructure of the Claimants including the 33KVA lines, gas engines and gas infrastructure built by the Claimants to supply gas to the power plant and generate electricity supply whether by bulk sales or transmission to corporate entities or individuals in Edo State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed”.
Itsueli also ordered “The Defendant, whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies, assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from parading themselves member or shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying or using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed”.