According to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, his administration plans to purchase the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s Umuahia ringed fence in order to supply consistent electricity to the other eight LGAs that are not served by Geometric Power.
This was said by Otti on Monday at a reception hosted by Geometric Power Aba following former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s commissioning and inspection of Aba Power’s new 2 X 15 MVA, Ogbor Hill Sub-Station.
Additionally, the governor instructed the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities to consult with the Geometric Power management regarding the transfer of its surplus power to the Umuahia ringed fence.
“We are currently reorganizing Umuahia and purchasing EEDC. We will be submitting an offer to EEDC by Tuesday, May 6.
“We will be submitting an offer to EEDC after completing all necessary due diligence and assessments.
With all 11 of Geometric’s substations operational and the nine local governments linked, we estimate that the issue of Ukwa West still exists, which we are working to resolve. This implies that we will have more than 80 megawatts of surplus power coming from this location.Our conversation with Geometric Power revolves around wheeling that 80 or 88 megawatts, or any excess power, into the Umuahia ring-fence. Normally, that excess power would be put into the national grid. Therefore, that extra power would go to Umuahia once we are in control,” said Governor Otti.
The governor, while appreciating former President Obasanjo for some courageous actions he took as President, including isolating Aba as a ringed fence far before now that the Federal Government has granted states authority to regulate electric power, also, thanked Professor Nnaji for investing in Abia.
Also speaking, Obasanjo pleaded with Prof. Nnaji to include the remaining 8 LGAs in the state that were not yet covered by the electricity-ringed fence of the Geometric power.
Chief Obasanjo, who saluted the leadership style of Otti described Aba as the centre of industrialisation, which deserves steady power and congratulated Otti, Prof. Nnaji and the entire Abia people on the success of the project so far.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman and CEO of Geometric Power Group, Professor Bart Nnaji, while giving an overview of the vision of the Aba Integrated Power Project, lauded Obasanjo and Otti for their roles which were instrumental to the realization of the project.
He also thanked the governor for his long-standing support for the project during his time as the Executive Director of First Bank and later, Diamond Bank, adding that Otti as a governor has created an enabling environment for the project to thrive. He disclosed that so far, the Aba Power has cost over 800 million Dollars.
The event was well attended by senior Government appointees and Mayors of Osisioma LGA, Aba North and Aba South LGA including the 2 members representing Osisioma North and South State Constituency in the State House of Assembly. The member representing Aba Central State Constituency was also present at the event.
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