The commercial hub of Abia State has been thrown into darkness following an unprecedented 60 days of uninterrupted electricity supply, marking a significant setback for Nigeria's power sector.
What Triggered the Sudden Blackout?
Geometric Power, Nigeria's pioneering integrated power company, confirmed that the outage resulted from gas supply disruptions from Heirs Energies. The gas shortage originated from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 located in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area.
Edise Ekong, Senior Brand and Communications Manager of Aba Power Electricity Company Ltd, explained the situation in an official statement. The blackout commenced at 4:33 a.m. on Thursday, affecting customers across nine of the seventeen local government areas served by Aba Power.
Industrial Impact and Business Disruption
Aba, widely recognized as Nigeria's manufacturing heartbeat, hosts thousands of small and large-scale enterprises that had begun thriving under Geometric Power's reliable electricity supply. The sudden outage has severely disrupted commercial activities and business operations throughout the region.
Many businesses had significantly reduced their dependence on expensive diesel generators during the two-month period of stable power, making the current outage particularly challenging for the industrial sector.
Backup Challenges and Restoration Efforts
Addressing why Geometric Power couldn't switch to the national grid for emergency supply, Ekong revealed that although the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has completed a new substation dedicated to Geometric Power, the facility remains uncommissioned.
"Our engineers are currently working with TCN to complete the final tests," Ekong stated. "We expect commissioning to happen very soon given the urgency of the situation in Aba and surrounding areas."
The company maintains close collaboration with gas suppliers to restore electricity to the Aba Ring-fenced Area as quickly as possible.
Industry Experts Weigh In
Energy specialist Cliff Eneh, formerly with Texas Power and Light and the defunct NEPA, described Geometric Power's achievement as "a significant milestone" for Nigeria's power sector.
"If not for the gas shortage and bureaucratic delays within TCN, I believe Geometric Power would have sustained continuous power supply for years," Eneh commented.
He also praised the sophistication of Geometric Power's infrastructure and the technical expertise of its workforce, noting his recent positive impressions during a facility visit.
Despite the current challenges, optimism remains high among residents and industry observers that power restoration will occur swiftly. The temporary setback shouldn't overshadow Geometric Power's historic achievement in rewriting Nigeria's electricity narrative and establishing Aba as a model for reliable, locally-driven power generation and distribution.
