Abia State Government has submitted a bid to acquire 60% of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) assets in the State.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that negotiations for the 60% acquisition of the assets of EEDC by the Abia State Government, has reached an advanced stage
He revealed that the State is also preparing to re-fence eight Local Government Areas in Abia Central and Abia North Senatorial zones to facilitate infrastructure and grid upgrades.
“In a major move to enhance the power initiatives of this administration, Abia State Government has submitted a bid for the acquisition of 60% interstate electricity asset of EEDC in Abia State.
“The initial offer was submitted not too long ago. Negotiations for the 60% acquisition of the assets of EEDC has reached an advanced stage.
“Of course, when this is realized, the process of re-fencing the eight LGAs situated in Abia Central and Abia North is ongoing”, the Commissioner stated.
He announced that the State Government would launch its participation in the EU-sponsored “Solar for Health” power project next week aimed at providing solar electricity to at least nine healthcare facilities across the State.
Prime Kanu said that the project is being financed through a 70-30 funding split between the EU and Abia State.
“Abia State is one of the few States selected under this EU-sponsored project, whereby the EU will bring 70% finance and Abia State will bring 30% counterpart funding for this project.
“Of course, when this project is launched, it will light up a minimum of nine health facilities across the State”, the Commissioner maintained.
He emphasized that the energy interventions are part of the present administration’s vision of delivering uninterrupted power to citizens.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said the proposed acquisition of the EEDC assets, stemmed from the State’s underwhelming power performance in Abia Central and Abia North due to lack of investments.
“We’ve been able to make progress with Aba Ring-Fenced. As we know, from Umuahia all the way to Abia North, we’ve been struggling,” he said.
Mr. Monday disclosed that due diligence on EEDC assets had been completed and an initial offer had already been submitted, adding that the State Government is waiting for the Management of EEDC to respond.
“We are waiting for the management of EEDC to respond. Either they accept or they say no. And we go back to the negotiation front and back until we have a value”, he said
The Commissioner who also provided technical insight into the ongoing solar project initiatives of the Abia State Government, emphasized the importance of energy storage systems in the EU-sponsored Solar for Health Project.
Mr Monday noted that the design would accommodate weather-related power fluctuations.
“If there is a fault, or there is a failure, or for instance, the solar is not producing enough—you know, during the rainy season, you will always have a battery. It will come with a battery and energy storage system, so the battery technology can handle that”, he explained.
The Commissioner also revealed that over 50 trained personnel from the Ministries of Power and Health have been selected for the operation and maintenance of the solar systems.
He added that energy audits were currently being conducted in the selected health facilities to determine how best to deploy the Technology.
