Geometric brings 188 MW plants online by August
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Leading captive power provider, Geometric Power Limited, is perfecting processes to commission its 188 megawatts generation plants in Aba, Abia State, where the company also operates its electricity distribution concession.
Chairman of the company, Professor Barth Nnaji, declared in a media statement that the four units of the plant would come up in sequence after the plants have undergone final pre-commissioning inspection satisfactory by the KSE Energy of Turkey. The technical team also has industry veteran, Ben Caven who comes with the longstanding experience from the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
Prof Nnaji stated the commissioning of the plants would enhance electricity supply for homes and businesses in most parts of Abia State covered in the distribution network of Aba Power Limited.
Prof also pointed at the company’s investments in solidifying its distribution network with four new substations and refurbishment of existing three other substations inherited from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
He said the distribution network would be further reinforced with new lines and durable tubular poles.
He said indigenous engineering firm, Oilserv, is working to deliver a 27 kilometer pipeline from upstream petroleum production sites in Owaza to the Osisioma Industrial Layout. The pipeline is conceived to feed the power plants with fuel gas.
He explained that Geometric Power was cited in Aba to provide enhanced and cost efficient electricity supply industrial and commercial enterprises in the city, adding that efficient power supply in the area would help realize government’s ease of doing business campaign and promote local manufacturing.
“With constant, quality and affordable electricity soon, the cost of doing business in Abia State will reduce significantly and this will, in turn, impact on the national economy,” he said.
He advised investors and enterprises in Aba to take advantage of the fiscal incentives in the African Continental Free Trade Area to cut their cost of trade.
Nnaji commended Aba businesses for excelling in textiles, leather products and metals which need large export markets.
Meanwhile, electricity consumers in the Aba Ring- fenced distribution network can easily have their prepaid meters in less than three weeks.
Chief Commercial Officer of Aba Power, Engineer Blessing Ogbe, stated that the process of obtaining prepaid meters from the Aba electricity distribution firm takes even months for some electricity users because they do not follow the right process.
The power company had in May launched the Aba Power Mass Metering Programme (APMMP) to provide prepaid meters to consumers without paying any deposit, promising to make them available within 10 working days after a customer’s request.
“10 working days are in practice two weeks because of the work-free days during the weekend and the Monday Sit-at-home campaign in the five Southeastern states by some non-state actors”, Engr Ogbe explained.
He said processes for allocation and installation of meters begin with full documentation by the customer who, he said, must submit completed from to any of the company’s offices.
