- Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged Aba Integrated Power LTD to channel its surplus power to Umuahia, the State capital, rather than feeding it to the National Grid.
- He disclosed that his administration is discussing with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company on the possibility of acquiring the Umuahia part of the ringed fence network, stating that it would enable excess capacity of supply to be moved to Umuahia.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged the Aba Integrated Power LTD to channel its surplus power to Umuahia, the State capital, rather than feeding it to the National Grid.
The Governor made the call on February 13, when he was accompanied by the leader of the European Union delegation, Mr Maximo De Luca, on a tour of the Aba Integrated Power facility. He said that the initiative, when realised, will boost businesses, attract investments, and stimulate economic activities in Umuahia.
Also, he disclosed that his administration is discussing with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company on the possibility of acquiring the Umuahia part of the ringed fence network, stating that it would enable excess capacity of supply to be moved to Umuahia and not wheeled to the National Grid.
He commended the management of the Aba-based company for improving power generation and distribution, noting that with the current output of 75 Megawatts, the possibility of generating 90 Megawatts was nearby.
Furthermore, the Abia Governor lamented the challenges faced by local industries as a result of poor power supply, including Star Paper Mill. Governor Otti expressed regret that the paper mill, which was a major employer in Aba, shut down because of power inconsistencies and assured that steps were being taken to bring it back to life.
“In the last six months, we have been engaging to see how we can bring it back to production. I have had to visit AMCON, and I think we are at the point where evaluation is being done. So, hopefully, before the end of the year, we will be able to have a landing because growing up around here, Star Paper Mill was a behemoth, employing so many people, and it operated on a 24-hour basis. If I remember correctly, one of the most important factors was power,” he said.