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Geometric blames Poor Power Supply in Aba on Gas Shortage

...solution expected in one month

Published

Friday, August 30, 2024 at 01:42 PM

Written by Omotola Adeleke

Geometric blames Poor Power Supply in Aba on Gas Shortage

Aba Power Limited, has expressed frustration over operational constraints resulting from natural gas shortage that has left residents of Aba in darkness

The company reports that an acute natural gas shortage at its 188-megawatt plant in the Osisioma Industrial Estate, Aba, Abia State, is hindering economic development in the state.

Ugo Opiegbe, the Managing Director of Aba Power, a subsidiary of Geometric Power, announced on thursday that the company is facing a severe gas shortage.

As a result, they have had to import 25 megawatts from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at a significant expense to ensure a steady supply for their customers.

"We are committed to providing reliable service to our customers, regardless of the high costs involved," Opiegbe stated.

He further mentioned that, despite their capability to generate 141 MW from their three General Electric (GE) turbines and deliver reliable, high-quality, and affordable electricity to nine of Abia State’s 17 local government areas, they are still forced to import electricity due to severe gas shortages. He added that they export around 50 MW of surplus power to the national grid to support other regions in Nigeria.

The company stated that the Aba Ringfence requires approximately 90 MW, which can be generated by two of its three installed turbines, each with a capacity of 47 MW and that the 25MW from the NDPHC is like a drop of water in the ocean.

“The unreliable gas supply is affecting hundreds of thousands of our customers, particularly manufacturing firms for whose sake Geometric Power built the $800m Aba Integrated Power Project to accelerate the industrial development of Aba and its environs and serve as a model of electricity development in Nigeria, a promising nation whose growth has been hampered seriously over the decades by the absence of such basic infrastructure as reliable power”.

The statement quoted Ogbonna Chukwueke, an engineer and gas expert formerly with Shell, as saying that in 2009, Geometric Power entered into an agreement with The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to supply 43 million standard cubic feet of gas (MSCF) from Oil Mining Licences (OMLs) 11 and 17 in Owaza, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State. This agreement was made to enable the company's four turbines to produce 47 MW each.

He also pointed out that the withdrawal of the petroleum giant from Nigeria’s onshore and shallow offshore operations—due to years of extensive oil theft, vandalism of its facilities, community conflicts, and the kidnapping of its personnel by criminal gangs—resulted in the transfer of ownership and management of OMLs 11 and 17 to local operators. Unfortunately, these local operators have not managed to supply even 10 million standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas daily to the Geometric Power plant on any occasion.

Geometric Power has announced that it is working urgently to address the gas supply issue.

Also Read: Gov Otti Inaugurates 41.4km Ohafia-Arochukwu Road

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Geometric blames Poor Power Supply in Aba on Gas Shortage

Aba Power Limited, has expressed frustration over operational constraints resulting from natural gas shortage that has left residents of Aba in darkness

The company reports that an acute natural gas shortage at its 188-megawatt plant in the Osisioma Industrial Estate, Aba, Abia State, is hindering economic development in the state.

Ugo Opiegbe, the Managing Director of Aba Power, a subsidiary of Geometric Power, announced on thursday that the company is facing a severe gas shortage.

As a result, they have had to import 25 megawatts from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at a significant expense to ensure a steady supply for their customers.

"We are committed to providing reliable service to our customers, regardless of the high costs involved," Opiegbe stated.

The company stated that the Aba Ringfence requires approximately 90 MW, which can be generated by two of its three installed turbines, each with a capacity of 47 MW and that the 25MW from the NDPHC is like a drop of water in the ocean.

Geometric Power has announced that it is working urgently to address the gas supply issue.

Also Read: Gov Otti Inaugurates 41.4km Ohafia-Arochukwu Road

Apprehend Kidnappers of Justice Umukoro

Rivers: Peace at What Price?

2027: Can the Coalition Work?

Tinubu, Democracy Day, and June 12

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