Abia State is well-positioned to become Nigeria’s hub for electricity generation, according to Professor Bart Nnaji, former Minister of Power and current Chairman of Geometric Power.
Nnaji made this assertion during a visit from a team of international electricity consultants to Geometric Power’s headquarters in the Osisioma Industrial Layout, Aba.
Advertorial
Nnaji highlighted the state’s strategic advantage, revealing that two significant power plants are in development within the Aba Ring-fenced Area, which spans nine local government areas (LGAs) in Abia.
One of the power plants, a joint venture between Geometric Power and General Electric (GE), the world’s oldest power equipment manufacturer, will produce 1,080 megawatts of electricity in Ukwa West LGA.
He noted that this is GE’s first joint venture with a Nigerian company.
Advertorial
“The project would have progressed much further if not for the Federal Government’s five-year suspension of the World Bank partial risk guarantee for the power purchase agreements,” Nnaji explained.
The visiting team of consultants included Nico Peterschmidt and Dipta Majumdar from INENUS, and Rajesh Kumar Jain from the International Solar Alliance, a global organization committed to advancing solar energy.
The team is in Nigeria on the invitation of the federal government to assist with developing mini solar grids in underserved areas.
Advertorial
Peterschmidt mentioned that the World Bank has provided a $410 million loan to fund these solar grids, with Abia State aiming to be one of the first beneficiaries.
Nnaji reaffirmed Geometric Power’s commitment to working with the state government to achieve Abia’s ambitious power goals, including the establishment of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He praised Governor Alex Otti for his longstanding support of Geometric Power’s projects.
Advertorial
The Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, commended Geometric Power for its cooperation, noting that in other states, power distribution companies (DisCos) have resisted similar government initiatives.
He added that the state’s new electricity framework would rely heavily on Geometric Power’s involvement, especially since parts of the Aba Ring-fence remain underserved.
Ugo Opiegbe, Managing Director of Aba Power, outlined Geometric Power’s achievements, including the construction of five new substations, refurbishment of three others, and the installation of 150,000 kilometers of overhead wiring.
Advertorial
He noted that the company has aggressively expanded its metering program, increasing the percentage of metered customers from 5% to 30%, with plans to double its customer base through ongoing enumeration and metering efforts.
Both the Abia government officials and international consultants expressed satisfaction with Geometric Power’s significant investments in the Aba Ring-fence, amounting to over $800 million, making it the largest private investment in the Southeast.
