New power plant to be commissioned in Aba
Residents of Aba, especially the industrialists and artisans in the city will soon have cause to smile as the chronic power challenge facing them will be a thing of the past.
This is because a privately owned power generating company, Geometric, based in the city has assured that it would begin operation in next month.
When operational, 141 Mega Watts of electricity would be generated at the Geometric plant.
The good news was given to Aba residents by the Chairman of the company, Prof. Barth Nnaji, who also assured that all the necessary arrangements have been concluded for the power company to begin operation.
According to Prof. Nnaji who is the immediate past Minister of Power, however disclosed that while generation of power would done by Geometric, the distribution would be done by another company, Aba Power Limited.
Prof. Nnaji spoke in Aba Monday when the General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE], Comrade Joe Ajaero visited the company to inaugurate a chapter of the union there.
Nnaji however announced that while the company begins operation next month, it would be officially commissioned in August by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Prof. Nnaji explained that “the power needs of Aba will be supplied first” and the excess would be supplied to the national grid.
According to the former minister, the project has so far gulped over 46 million US Dollars (about N6.9 billion] which he explained was mainly sourced locally.
On the impact of the project to labour the market, Prof. Nnaji disclosed that 400 direct jobs would be created by the company.
He commended the Abia State Government for its continued supports in ensuring that the project succeeds. Particularly, he noted with joy the construction of an access road to the plant by the Abia state Government as well as granting the company “many waivers”.
He said that Governor Theodore Orji has remained a great source of encouragement.