Inadequate gas supply hampering 24-hour electricity distribution in Aba

Most parts of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have been in darkness for some days due to lack of gas supply to the Geometric Power plant, according to Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), the electricity distribution company (DISCO) in charge of the Aba ring fenced area, comprising nine Local Government Areas of Abia State.

The company’s management in a press statement made available to BusinessDay, expressed regret about current shortage of gas supply to its power plant last week, which impacted their ability to meet desired level of service delivery of electricity to consumers.

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They however noted that its gas supplier had assured them that they were working hard to fix the problem within their facilities and would restore their gas supply as soon as possible.

Recall that Bart Nnaji, a professor and chairman of Geometric Power Limited, owners of the integrated independent power plant at Osisioma Industrial estate, Aba, at the inauguration of the power plant on February 26, 2024, warned that lack of gas would be the only obstacle to providing constant power in the commercial city.

Nnaji, also on Thursday , June 13, 2024, in Lagos, warned again that current promotion of the use of electric and gas-powered vehicles in Nigeria, would be thwarted by insufficient supply of gas and electricity, as well as non-availability of required infrastructure to recharge electric vehicles.

Nnaji, who delivered the keynote address on “Powering Up Nigeria: Embracing Clean Technologies for Sustainable Growth,” at the American Business Council (ABC) Economic Update, held at Pier Harbour, Victoria Island, urged the Federal Government never to yield to the pressure to classify natural gas, as a regular fossil fuel to be extinguished in the name of transition to cleaner energy.

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He also asked the government to be wary of dabbling into the development of nuclear energy without giving adequate consideration to the management of its wastewater.

The former minister tasked the government to increase power generation to 100,000 MW and upgrade the country’s power transmission infrastructure to the super grid in order to acquire capacity to efficiently transmit electricity to all part of the country.