The Abia State government has announced plans to detach from the national grid with the addition of a 125-megawatt gas turbine to Geometric Power, Aba. The existing capacity of Geometric Power is 141 megawatts, and with the new addition, it will reach 266 megawatts. This will enable the supply of power to Umuahia and its environs, with excess power available for sale.
Eight local governments in the Aba ring-fence area have already detached from the national grid with Geometric Power's operation. The state government is now focusing on providing independent power for the remaining eight local governments to detach them from the national grid.
Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), will also disconnect from the national grid once a 15-megawatt independent power project is completed. The university had previously been without power for 13 years, but the governor had earlier restored power by inaugurating a 5-megawatt substation.
The governor, Alex Otti, has announced that the 15-megawatt independent power station is a proposed solution to the power problem in ABSU and its environs. The project will be powered by gas turbines and is expected to be completed soon.
The success of Abia State's independent power project could set a precedent for other states in Nigeria seeking to reduce their reliance on the national grid. With the governor's ambitious plans to detach the entire state from the grid, it remains to be seen whether other states will follow suit. The 15-megawatt independent power project at Abia State University is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and its completion could have a major impact on the state's energy landscape.
