An investigation has revealed that the nine local government areas (LGAs) in Abia State served by Aba Power were not impacted by the recent national grid collapse, which occurred around 8 am on Saturday, October 19.
This exemption is due to Geometric Power Group, the owner of Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th electricity distribution company, generating and distributing electricity to Aba independently of the national transmission network.
In a telephone interview with newsmen in Aba this afternoon, Aba Power Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, confirmed that their coverage area was unaffected by the grid collapse. Though the collapse, the third within a week, was later resolved by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) engineers, it was attributed to an explosion within the transmission network.
Aba Power operates under an embedded generation model, with its power plant solely dedicated to supplying its electricity needs.
“This is the model the country should adopt to develop a competitive electric power sector,” stated Ejike Dike, a mechanical engineer and business consultant, in a statement in Abuja today.
“Not every off-grid project has to be as large as the Aba Power project, which cost about $800 million, making it the biggest investment in the Southeast.”
Ejike explained that Geometric Power is the only company in Nigeria employing this model. He noted that while Sahara Energy Group owns both Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and Egbin Power Plant in Ikorodu, Lagos, the electricity generated by Egbin is supplied to the national grid rather than being dedicated to a specific area.
He further suggested that Nigeria could emulate the Geometric Power model by completing small hydro projects scattered across the country and harnessing solar energy, allowing more communities to access electricity.
Chief Udeigbo, president-general of the 22,000-strong Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association (ALPALDA), commented, “It is good news that the supply to the Aba Ring Fence has remained uninterrupted, and we are seeing improvements in supply.”
“We still need more improvements, and the sooner these are realized, the better it will be for all stakeholders in Aba and its surrounding areas.”
Sir Alex Maduakor, president of the Association of Aba Industrialists, praised Geometric Power for its “massive investments in the Aba Power Project” and urged the company to ensure constant electricity for Aba, “Nigeria’s foremost indigenous manufacturing city.”
“Manufacturers are facing tough challenges in the country, and they require all the support they can get, starting with infrastructure like a reliable power supply,” he added.
