Geometric Power Experiences First Blackout in 60 Days Due to Gas Shortage

Geometric Power, one of Nigeria’s leading integrated electricity providers, recorded its first blackout in 60 days early Wednesday, affecting several communities in Abia State.

The outage began at 4:33 a.m., according to Edise Ekong, Senior Brand and Communication Manager of Aba Power Electricity Company Ltd, the group’s distribution arm. Ekong attributed the disruption to insufficient gas supply from Heirs Energies, a business partner and operator of a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 at Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area.

“We apologize to our customers in nine of the 17 LGAs we serve, who have been without electricity since 4:33 a.m. due to what Heirs Energies describes as a facility trip,” Ekong said. “We are working tirelessly with our gas suppliers to restore power to the Aba Ring-fenced Area.”

Unlike previous gas shortages, Geometric Power could not draw electricity from the national grid because the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) new substation dedicated to the company is still undergoing final commissioning tests. Engineers are on-site to expedite the substation’s activation due to the critical economic importance of Aba, a major hub for domestic manufacturing and multinational firms.

Experts have commended Aba Power for maintaining consistent electricity supply for two months prior to this incident. Cliff Eneh, a retired senior engineer with Nigeria’s National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), described the two-month streak as “an important record” in the country’s electricity distribution sector.

Geometric Power continues efforts to restore full electricity supply as quickly as possible while coordinating with its gas suppliers and TCN.