The Management of the Geometric Power Plant Aba, has cleared the air over the controversy on whether or not Abia State Government has any stake in the project.
Spokesman of the power giant, Mr Chijioke Ogbodo, told Vanguard in Umuahia, the “Abia State Government has 3½% equity” in the $800 power plant.
Ogbodo spoke on the heels of the controversy between the aides of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and those the incumbent Gov. Alex Otti, over the actual equity of the State Government in the project.
While Ikpeazu’s former Commissioner for Information, who also later headed the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, claimed that Ikpeazu’s administration invested 5% equity in the project; Otti’s Media Adviser, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that the incumbent Governor had no evidence before him to authenticate the claims.
He said that the previous administration did not indicate any such investment in the handover note given to Gov. Otti, adding that the Governor would be glad to know that the state had such huge investment.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, also added that the State Government would “ask the necessary questions” with a view to establishing what actually transpired.
Geometric Power Plant Aba, a private-sector driven investment, is expected to generate 188 megawatts, distribute 100 megawatts needed in the nine Local Government Areas in Aba re-fenced area.
It is to export the balance of 88 megawatts to the national grid.
Aba and the other LGAs in the region are expected to have stable power supply in the days ahead.
Owner of the multi-million dollar power plant, Professor Barth Nnaji, had during the formal inauguration of the project by Vice President Kashim Shettima, guaranteed steady power supply to Aba “if Government will guarantee steady gas supply to the plant”.
Geometric Power Plant Aba, is estimated to be the largest single investment in the South East.
There are hopes that the power plant has marked the beginning of power revolution in the country.