Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State is set to address the challenge of unstable power supply through renewable energy.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Power and and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, an Engineer, during a stakeholders’ workshop on Off-grid Regulatory Framework in Umuahia, the state capital.
The Commissioner who said the project was in synergy with India and Germany, explained that it was targeted at providing affordable energy for residents.
The Commissioner explained that the stakeholders’ engagement which involves personnel from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, was aimed at carrying the necessary stakeholders along.
He said the goal of the project was to make energy available at an international standard.
“The electricity market in Abia State is on track and it’s evolving and we aim to make it not just within the national standard but international standard.
“The Ministry of Power and Public Utilities has the mandate to support His Excellency to fulfill his promise to Abians and one of his promises in his manifesto is to utilize the available renewable energy sources within the state to provide access to electricity to both underserved and unserved citizens.
“So, for this regulation to cover that sector, we thought it wise that it starts by engaging all the MDAs.”
He enjoined the participants to be committed to the vision and contribute effectively to the policy framework.
The initiative, according to him, became necessary following the Electricity Act of 2023 which removed electricity from the exclusive list and gave states the leverage to regulate their own electricity.
“We are already working on the main electricity law which covers both generation, transmission, distribution, metering sectors of the market, and that bill is at the Abia House of Assembly.
“So this programme is an addendum that will come out from the electricity law but specific to the mini grid establishment in Abia state.
“So, that’s what this programme is all about. It’s being financed by International Solar Alliance from India.”
The Commissioner further hinted that the facilitators were drawn from India and Germany, adding that the consultants are those that had worked with the Federal Government on the rural electrification agency at the federal level.
According to him, Abia is one of the first states to initiate the project.
Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Kachi Etuluo, explained that the stakeholders chosen were part of efforts to position Abia State to be amongst the states who have developed and upgraded their energy sector.
He said it was aimed at actualising the Governor’s dream of serving the people of Abia state with clean renewable and affordable energy in the upgrade space.
“Like we all know a lot of communities are beyond the grid supply and some of the ones that are within the grid supplies are actually not supplied effectively.
“So, what we are doing today is to create that enabling framework and policy for the thrive of the upgrade space and getting the international support to be able to develop the upgrade space in Abia State and the private sector to play into the upgrade space because we know that private sector drives development in every state,” Etuluo explained.
Contributing, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, Mrs Nwanyieze Otum, lauded Gov. Otti for his resolve to enhance electricity supply to the state by initiating plans for electricity regulations.
