DEVASTATING SETBACK: 3 Critical Effects of Gas Shortage on Geometric Power’s Operations
Geometric Power Plant, a major player in the energy sector, has expressed serious concerns over a severe natural gas shortage that is critically impacting its 188-megawatt facility located in the Osisioma Industrial Estate, Aba, Abia State. The company’s Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, highlighted in a press release on Friday how this shortage is hindering not only their operations but also the broader economic development of the state.
Opiegbe detailed that the Aba Ringfence requires approximately 90 megawatts to operate efficiently, a capacity that could be met by two of its three turbines, each with a 47-megawatt output. However, due to the ongoing gas supply issues, Geometric Power has been forced to import 25 megawatts from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). This costly measure is necessary to maintain electricity provision to their customers despite the constraints.
“It is profoundly ironic that while we are prepared to generate 141 megawatts from our three General Electric turbines and supply uninterrupted, high-quality, and affordable electricity to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, we are still compelled to import power due to critical gas shortages,” Opiegbe remarked. He pointed out that the plant even contributes about 50 megawatts of potential excess power to the national grid to support other regions in Nigeria, yet faces the irony of importing electricity because of gas constraints.
Opiegbe described the 25 megawatts sourced from NDPHC as “a drop in the ocean,” emphasizing that the unreliable gas supply is adversely affecting numerous customers, including various manufacturing firms. This issue has substantial ramifications for the local economy and business operations in the region.
The Aba Power Integrated Project, hailed as the largest private sector investment in Nigeria’s South-East, was officially inaugurated on February 26, 2024, by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. Despite these challenges, the company remains hopeful that the gas shortage issue will be resolved within the next month, according to their statement.
Credit: The Punch
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