Aba IPP, Aba Phase I
The Aba Integrated Power Project was developed to generate and distribute electricity within a ring-fenced network serving Aba industrial city and its surrounding communities.
Power Plant
Gas Pipeline
Distribution Lines
Power Plant Area
Geometric Power Limited, GP, is a pioneering power project developer in Nigeria. The company established a power generation facility in Aba with the objective of providing high-quality electricity to a select number of large industrial and commercial clients.
Initially, the project involved the installation of a 141 MW gas-fired power plant under Phase I. This phase included the development of over 110 km of 33 kV and 11 kV sub-transmission lines, the construction of four new substations, and the installation of capacitor banks for the distribution of power to large industrial and commercial consumers previously served by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
Aba Integrated Power Project
Aba Integrated Power Project
Geometric Power and Aba Power secured a 20-year concession from the Federal Government of Nigeria to supply power exclusively to the Aba industrial city and its surrounding communities.
To achieve this, the Aba Integrated Power Project was developed as Nigeria's first independent and integrated power utility. The project comprises a 141 MW gas-fired power plant, a 27 km gas pipeline, and a distribution utility within a ring-fenced distribution network.
The project is presently owned by the project developer and sponsor, Geometric Power Limited, along with Aba Power Limited and other investors.
Project Expansion and Structure
During discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria, Geometric Power and PHCN, it was decided to avoid cherry-picking profitable customers in Aba.
This decision led to an expansion of the project to include all electricity consumers on the PHCN Aba Business Unit's distribution system, covering Aba metropolis and its surrounding rural areas.
To facilitate this, Geometric Power established two separate corporate entities. Geometric Power Aba Limited, GPAL, owns and operates the new power generation station, while Aba Power Limited Electric, APLE, manages the electric power distribution system.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, subsequently issued a power generation license to GPAL and a distribution license to APLE.
Owns and operates the new power generation station.
Manages the electric power distribution system within the Aba ring-fenced area.
Aba: Regional Significance
Aba, located in Abia State, is a vital regional market and the principal commercial centre of southeastern Nigeria, with a population of 2.3 million as of 2006. It is often referred to as the Taiwan of Africa because of the resourcefulness of its local business community, artisans and craftsmen.
The city has a diverse industrial base, producing paper products, soap, glass products, oil, beer and bottled water, processed food products and other industrial goods. It also has numerous small metal and wood fabrication workshops with significant power demands.
Despite this industrial vibrancy, power supply in Aba has been grossly inadequate. Many industries and residential areas have relied heavily on costly diesel generators, increasing production costs and limiting industrial growth.
Market Research and Demand Analysis
The development of the Aba IPP was guided by a commercial study and technical audit of the Aba Island conducted by Geometric Power in collaboration with PHCN in March 2006. This audit assessed daily peak load, suppressed demand, the status of shutdown industries and forecasted power consumption requirements for various customer categories.
The findings revealed frequent power curtailments and poor power quality. As a result, most industrial and commercial enterprises resorted to self-generation and emergency power solutions, while some larger industries established private power stations to meet their needs.
A subsequent technical survey conducted in January 2008 by NRECA, the Distribution Management Contractor for the Aba IPP, confirmed a growing gap between demand and supply in Aba. A 2009 study further showed that most residents and businesses were willing to pay cost-reflective electricity rates rather than continue to bear the high cost of operating generators.
The study also showed that two-thirds of households in Aba generate nearly 170 MVA, approximately 136 MW, of electricity using generators, while commercial and industrial consumers produce around 115 MVA, approximately 92 MW, of self-generated power.
Design and Infrastructure
The Aba Integrated Power Project is designed to address electricity demand by providing reliable power to industries, commercial businesses, residential consumers and other power off-takers in the ring-fenced area.
Phase I involves the delivery of power from a 141 MW gas-fired power plant to consumers via over 100 km of brand-new industry-centred distribution lines. This infrastructure is aimed at ensuring reliable and affordable power for large commercial entities and industries seeking to expand production capacity.
The project also features a dedicated 27 km gas pipeline constructed to supply fuel to the power plant. The pipeline sources natural gas from Shell's gas gathering centre in Abia State, supporting consistent gas supply to the plant.
Operational Framework
The power generation aspect is managed by Geometric Power Aba Limited, GPAL, which has been licensed by NERC to generate and sell power to non-regulated consumers within the Aba ring-fenced area.
The O&M contractor for GPAL is O&M Solutions, OMS. OMS works alongside the EPC contractor, G5 of South Africa, to ensure the technical completeness and operational soundness of the power plant.
The power distribution aspect is managed by Aba Power Limited Electric, APLE, which has been licensed by NERC to distribute power to regulated customers within Aba metropolis.
The operation and maintenance of APLE’s distribution company is managed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, NRECA, USA. NRECA provides the management team responsible for overseeing daily distribution utility operations in Aba and continuous service improvement.
Aba Integrated Power Project
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