Aba IPP assures of reliable power supply by March

The Aba Independent Power Project (IPP), Geometric Power Limited (GPAL), a generating and distribution company, has assured of providing reliable power supply to Aba Ring-Fenced Area (RFA) by third week of March 2024.

Prof. Barth Nnaji, the Chief Executive Officer of Aba Independent Power Project (IPP) Geometric Power Limited, gave the assurance on Friday at a media briefing in his office in Aba, Abia.

Nnaji co-hosted the briefing with the Abia Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday.

The GPAL CEO said the first turbine which would start functioning fully after the IPP’s inauguration on Feb.26 will not yet provide reliable power supply to the RFA.

He said that when the second turbine comes into operation by third week of March, the IPP will stabilise power supply and provide reliable electricity to Aba people.

He said that Aba IPP is Nigeria’s only integrated power project which had its own embedded power plant enabling it to generate and distribute its own power.

“We have about four brand new power stations not yet connected to our network and at this moment, our infrastructure are adequate to carry our supply.

“Geometric Power Limited (GPAL), has invested almost $800m in the integrated power project, making it by far the largest investment in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria”, he said.

The Abia Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, regretted that Nigerian leadership wasted the efforts of the IPP to improve the well-being of its people for many years.

He said that the state was partnering investors to encourage investments and assured that the government will provide enabling environment for GPAL and others.

Monday said Abia was working on a bill to criminalise power theft, power infrastructure vandalism and non-payment for power consumed and non-supply of power.

The Media Consultant to GPAL, Mr Don Adinuba, debunked the claim that Abia government in Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration invested $5 million into GPAL.

He said that Ikpeazu’s administration only made a promise to invest in the company.