Korede Abdullah 
ABA, Nigeria – Electricity supply to the Aba Ring-fenced Area in Abia State is expected to be restored this week following the arrival of a critical gas infrastructure component required to resume operations at the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant.
Chairman of Aba Power and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving members of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Public Utilities during a fact-finding visit over the prolonged power outage affecting the area.
The blackout, which began last Thursday, followed the failure of the Clutch Gear and Starter Motor at the Associated Gas Gathering (AGG) Plant operated by Heirs Energies, the gas supplier to the Geometric Power Plant.
According to Nnaji, electricity supply will be restored immediately after the imported replacement component is installed at the facility.
“Geometric Power volunteered to pay the cost of flying it to Port Harcourt because of the urgency, but Heirs Energies chose to transport it to Rivers State by road at its own cost because there are no cargo flights between Lagos and Port Harcourt,” he said.
“About 73 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity comes from gas-fired power plants. Nigeria cannot remain one of the world’s largest gas-producing countries and still experience recurring gas supply disruptions,” he said.
Chairman of the House Committee on Power and Public Utilities, Aaron Uzodike, said lawmakers were concerned about the disruption after years of stable electricity supply in the Aba Ring-fenced Area.
“Our constituents are surprised that the reliable electricity they have enjoyed over the years could be interrupted in this manner. We came to understand the situation and identify areas where the government can provide support,” he said.
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Abah Felicity 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius