By Peter Omopo
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has revealed plans by his administration to acquire the Umuahia ringed fence of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in a bid to extend reliable electricity supply to the remaining eight Local Government Areas not yet served by Geometric Power.
Otti disclosed this on Monday during a reception hosted by Geometric Power Aba, following the commissioning and inspection of the newly completed 2x15MVA Ogbor Hill Substation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti commended Obasanjo for his foresight in supporting the establishment of the Geometric Power project in Aba, which he described as a game-changer in the quest for stable power in the region.
The governor stated that the Abia State Government has completed due diligence and evaluations, and will make a formal offer to EEDC on Tuesday, May 6, to acquire the Umuahia distribution area.
“We are in the process of buying EEDC and restructuring Umuahia. We have done all the due diligence and evaluations, and we will be making an offer,” he said.
Otti noted that with the completion of all 11 substations under the Geometric Power project and the connection of nine local governments, the state is expecting a power surplus of over 80 megawatts.
He added that while such excess would typically be injected into the national grid, deregulation has made it possible to negotiate the wheeling of surplus power directly into the Umuahia ringed fence, once acquired by the state.
“We are engaging Geometric Power to wheel that excess 80 or 88 megawatts to Umuahia. Once we are in control, that excess power will go to Umuahia,” he said.
Governor Otti also directed the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities to initiate discussions with Geometric Power to ensure a seamless transmission of surplus electricity to other parts of the state.
