By Els William
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, has praised the Geometric Power initiative in Abia State for its impressive efforts in developing the Aba Independent Power Project (IPP).
During his visit to the $800 million project, which includes a 188-megawatt gas-fired plant and an embedded distribution firm providing electricity to nine out of 17 local government areas in Abia, Montgomery described the project as an example of the innovation needed to drive sustainable development in Nigeria.
“The Geometric model is impressive”, commends Dr. Richard Montgomery, adding, “It represents the kind of innovation needed to drive sustainable development across Nigeria”.
Accompanied by Abia’s Commissioner for Power, Ikechukwu Monday, Montgomery was welcomed by Geometric Power’s Chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power. He also toured the state-of-the-art facilities, including three General Electric turbines, four newly-built substations, and a 27-kilometre gas pipeline. Montgomery emphasized the importance of technical sophistication, encouraging future collaborations between UK firms and Geometric Power.
Commissioned in February by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Aba IPP was initiated in 2004 on the recommendation of then-World Bank President James Wolfensohn and Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The project aims to unlock Aba’s industrial potential by providing reliable electricity.
Geometric Power Managing Director Ben Caven , also highlighted some the additional installations “It has provided 150,000 kilometres of overhead wires and cables,” said Ben Caven, a former PHCN executive director in charge of engineering, transmission, and generation, who is now the Geometric Power managing director.
“Our steel tubular poles, with 10 metres buried in the ground to withstand any natural disaster like an earthquake, match the ones in San Francisco in the United States and Tokyo in Japan.
“We have also built a 27-kilometre gas pipeline from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA to the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba,” Caven stated.
Montgomery commended Geometric Power’s contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector, while Nnaji acknowledged Abia Governor Alex Otti’s support for the project’s role in advancing industrialization in the state.
Other Geometric Power executives were also on hand to interact with the British High Commissioner delegation. The include Geometric Power Group Managing Director, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, The Managing Director of Geometric Power Aba Limited, Engr. Ben Caven, the Aba Power Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, and the Geometric Power Chief Financial Officer, Tony Alozie, the Aba Power Chief Operating Officer, Engr Blessing Ogbe, Facilities Manager, Geometric Power Group, Mr Adeniyi Adebiyi, as well as Hannah Yangchi, Principal Manager, Projects
Source: Sun