Geometric Power Model is Impressive, says British High Commissioner

By C. Don Adinuba

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, has expressed admiration for the Geometric Power model behind the development of the Aba Independent Power Project in Abia State, describing it as remarkable.

"The Geometric model is truly impressive," stated the High Commissioner after touring the $800 million power project, which includes a 188-megawatt gas-fired plant integrated with a distribution company that supplies electricity to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State. "This is the type of innovation required to advance sustainable development across Nigeria."

Dr. Montgomery, accompanied by Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, the Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, was welcomed by the Geometric Power management team, led by its chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power.

Commissioned on February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Aba Independent Power Project was initiated in 2004 following a visit by then World Bank President James Wolfensohn and Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. During their visit to Aba in March 2004, they identified unreliable electricity as the primary obstacle to the city’s manufacturing potential. They urged Professor Nnaji, a prominent Nigerian engineering professor based in the United States who had previously led a team to construct the 22MW Abuja Emergency Plant, to establish an independent thermal plant in Aba to support small, medium, and large-scale industries.

High Commissioner Montgomery also commended the "state-of-the-art facilities" at the power utility. The utility, which is licensed to produce 188MW, features three installed General Electric (GE) turbines and has constructed four new substations while refurbishing three old ones inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

"In addition, we have laid 150,000 kilometers of overhead wires and cables," said Ben Caven, a former PHCN executive director in charge of engineering, transmission, and generation, who now serves as Geometric Power's managing director. "Our steel tubular poles, with 10 meters buried underground to withstand natural disasters like earthquakes, are on par with those in San Francisco and Tokyo."

"We have also constructed a 27-kilometer gas pipeline from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA to the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba."

The British diplomat expressed interest in having UK firms collaborate with Geometric Power, citing the company's technical expertise.

Nnaji expressed gratitude for the High Commissioner's visit and mentioned that once Geometric Power overcomes the current gas supply challenges in the coming weeks, Aba will receive approximately 100MW, with an additional 50MW being supplied to the national grid to enhance electricity supply in other regions of the country.

The Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities praised Governor Alex Otti for his "unwavering support of Geometric Power's crucial role in the state's industrialization efforts."

Other Geometric Power executives who engaged with the British High Commissioner's delegation included Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, Group Managing Director of Geometric Power; Engr. Ben Caven, Managing Director of Geometric Power Aba Limited; Ugo Opiegbe, Managing Director of Aba Power; Tony Alozie, Chief Financial Officer of Geometric Power; Engr. Blessing Ogbe, Chief Operating Officer of Aba Power; Mr. Adeniyi Adebiyi, Facilities Manager of Geometric Power Group; and Hannah Yangchi, Principal Manager of Projects.