Abia Electricity law: Foreign experts train Abia stakeholders on renewable electricity supply
*As state plans establishment of mini-grid
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State government has brought in foreign experts to train stakeholders on provision of access to electricity to Abians across the state through the off grid energy sector at international standard.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utililities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, who made this a workshop on the Abia State Off Grid Regulations Framework in Umuahia in for stakeholders, said Abia has good electricity market.
According to the Commissioner, facilitators for the workshop were drawn from India and Germany, while the consultants were those that had worked with the rural electrification agency at the federal level, adding that they resource persons would engage stakeholders, including personnel from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State.
Engr. Said the aim of the state government was to make energy available at an international standard.
“The electricity market in Abia State is on track and it’s evolving and we aim to make it not just within the national standard but international standard.
“The Ministry of Power and Public Utilities has the mandate to support His Excellency to fulfill his promise to Abians and one of his promises in his manifesto is to utilize the available renewable energy sources within the state to provide access to electricity to both under-served and un-served citizens.
“So, for this regulation to cover that sector, we thought it wise that it starts by engaging all the MDAs”
Engr. Monday enjoined the participants to be greatly engaged in the workshop and understand what the initiative actually as well as how it would affect Abia State so as to contribute effectively to the policy framework,” the Commissioner said.
He said following the Electricity Act of 2023 which removed electricity from the Exclusive List and gave States the leverage to regulate their own electricity, Abia State was working towards achieving that.
“We are already working on the main Electricity Law which covers both generation, transmission, distribution, metering sectors of the market and that Bill is at the Abia House of Assembly.
“So this programme is an addendum that will come out from the Electricity Law but specific to the mini-grid establishment in Abia state.
“So that’s what this programme is all about, it’s being financed by International Solar Alliance from India.” Engr. Monday disclosed.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Engr. Kachi Etulue, explained that the stakeholders chosen were part of efforts to position Abia state to be amongst the states who have developed their upgrade energy sector into actualising the dream of Governor Alex Otti to serving the people of Abia state with clean renewable and affordable energy in the upgrade space.
“Like we all know, a lot of communities are beyond the grid supply and some of the ones that are within the grid supplies are actually not supplied effectively.
“So, what we are doing today is to create that enabling framework and policy for the thriving of the upgrade space and getting the international support to be able to develop the upgrade space in Abia State and the private sector to play into the upgrade space because we know that private sector drives development in every state” Etulue explained.
Contributing, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power and Public Utililities, Mrs. Nwanyieze Otum, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for his resolve to enhance electricity supply to the state by initiating plans for the electricity regulations.
Mrs. Otum advised the participants to make good use of the workshop to enhance their knowledge on the policy initiative and framework for the electricity regulations in the State.
