From Okey Sampson, Umuahia, and Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and the President/CEO of Geometric Power Plant (GPP), Aba, Prof. Barth Nnaji, have eulogised former governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, for his intervention while in office, which made it possible for the establishment of the GPP.
The Senator representing Abia North at the upper legislative chamber was said to have granted a waiver to the company while in office and that made it become attractive to investors.
Speaking at the Plant’s commissioning, Governor Otti recalled the important role the former Governor played in bringing the Plant to fruition.
In his address at the groundbreaking ceremony, Otti recognised Kalu’s pivotal role in initiating the project, attributing its success to his leadership.
As a former MD/CEO of the now-defunct Diamond Bank, Otti recalled the role of the Abia North Senator in securing essential waivers to facilitate the power plant during his tenure as a banker.
“I consider it appropriate to appreciate the efforts of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who gave the initial waivers to Geometric, thereby, partially de-risking the transaction.
“If those waivers were not in place, I’m not too sure as a banker, I would have touched it,” Otti said while underscoring Kalu’s dedication to the Geometric Power Plant.
Equally, the promoter of the Power Plant, Prof Nnaji lauded Senator Kalu over his role at the early stage of the establishment of the Plant.
Prof Nnaji said without Kalu granting the company waiver at her formative stage, investors wouldn’t have shown interest.
Aba Power, with the capacity to produce 188 MWT electricity, was started 20 years ago, and it’s expected to supply power to Aba metropolis and eight other local government areas within the Aba ring-fenced area.
Findings revealed that the electricity generation company in the Geometric Power Group (GP), is Geometric Power Aba Ltd, (GPAL) while the distribution company is Aba Power Limited Electrical (APLE), which services nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State.
These nine local government areas, comprising Aba South, Aba North, Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Ugwunabo, Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Isiala-Ngwa South, and Isiala-Ngwa North, collectively make up the Aba ring-fenced area, where the GPAL is in charge of producing and distributing electricity.