Aba Power Ltd, a subsidiary of Geometric Power, is set to begin supplying electricity from one of its three turbines to consumers in the Aba Ring-fenced Area earlier than anticipated, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Originally scheduled to commence commercial supply to commercial customers 13 days after commissioning, the company’s Chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, has directed engineers to expedite the process and ensure power is delivered to the people starting this weekend.
The Geometric Power 188 Megawatt thermal plant, along with Aba Power company responsible for electricity distribution to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, were commissioned recently by Vice President Kassim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The facility, located in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba, Abia State, saw its first turbine turned on just 24 hours before the commissioning ceremony.
Officials from the National Control Centre (NCC) were initially slated to inspect the Geometric Power facility next week as part of technical requirements. However, they are now expected to arrive this week, a development attributed to Professor Nnaji’s influence and network.
When the first turbine goes into commercial operations this weekend, it will supply 47MW of electricity, nearly doubling the current supply of 25MW from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) through the national grid to the Aba Metropolis and its environs. The subsequent activation of the second turbine will further boost power supply to the Aba Ring-fenced Area to 94MW, meeting the city’s energy requirements and stabilizing power supply in the region.
Engineer Cliff Eneh, an energy consultant and former senior engineer with NEPA and Texas Power and Light Company, highlighted the significance of Geometric Power’s integrated electricity model, which includes both generation and distribution subsidiaries. Notably, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc has expressed interest in relocating its manufacturing plants to Aba once electricity supply improves substantially in the industrial city.
At the commissioning event, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to closely monitor Geometric Power’s performance as a potential business model for revitalizing the Nigerian power sector. Geometric Power’s modern facilities and integrated approach represent a promising step towards addressing Nigeria’s longstanding power challenges.
