From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Chairman of Geometric Power Limited, the parent body of Aba Power Plant (APP), Prof Barth Nnaji, has promised residents of Aba, Abia State of 24 hours power supply as problems facing the company would soon be over.
Prof Nnaji assured that as soon as the problems were solved, the power company would begin executing its mandate of providing 24 hours uninterrupted power supply to Aba in Abia State and its environs.
The Geometric Power chairman who made this known at the site of the power plant at Osisioma, near Aba during a chat with journalists, said the major problem APP was having was that it had not started generating its own power and presently depended on Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for that purpose.
He disclosed that Geometric Power signed an agreement with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), but about two years later, the SPDC licence expired and the Federal Government could not renew it and NNPCL took over.
The former Minister of Power said with that development, his company had to start the process of a new agreement with NNPCL, to supply gas from its facility at Owaza in Ukwa West to the power plant.
He said that NNPCL was presently refurbishing its facility at Owaza, assuring that when completed, it would begin gas supply from Owaza to the plant through the 24km pipeline that has already been laid.
“We are now in the process of renewing the agreement with NNPCL. They are about to start transmitting gas to us after refurbishing their gas plant at Owaza,” Nnaji said.
He stated that once NNPCL starts transmitting gas to Aba Power, the four giant turbines would use the gas to generate electricity that would guarantee 24 hours power supply within the area of their operation.
“The plant will be generating 141 megawatts of electricity and this will be too much for Aba and it’s environs, and we plan to sell the excess power to the national grid.
“We invested over $800m in the plant. Our problems are going to end very soon; and very soon, reliable power will be achieved.”
On the present epileptic power supply in the city, Nnaji blamed it on the low power supply from NDPHC.