Nigeria's First Private Power Plant Takes Off March

The first privately owned power plant in Nigeria, Geometric Power Ltd will commence operations in March, Managing Director of the company, Agartha Nnaji has said.

She spoke when the National Good Governance Tour team inspected the plant in Aba, Abia State.

Nnaji said the plant, when commissioned, will provide uninterrupted power supply to Aba and its environs.

The 140 megawatt plant, has three turbines already installed, while an overhead line, a 27 kilometre gas pipeline and a sub-station have since been completed.

Nnaji said the company has entered into an agreement with Shell Petroleum Company for the supply of gas and it plans to absorb and train some former staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) to work at the plant.

The company has completed the construction of four substations at different locations in Abia State and acquired and refurbished three substations of PHCN.

In his remarks, Information Minister Labaran Maku lauded the management of the company for venturing into the power business.

He said the take-off of the power plant will boost public confidence in the present administration's power reforms.

Maku said the Federal Government has licensed other private power plants to also provide electricity in the country.

------Atika Balal