Geometric Power, one of Nigeria’s leading integrated electricity groups, experienced its first blackout in 60 days, starting 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 outage to insufficient gas supply from Heirs Energies, the operator of the NNPC-Heirs Energies joint venture on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 in Ukwa West LGA, Abia State. He explained that the blackout resulted from a facility trip reported by the gas supplier.

“We regret that our customers in nine of the 17 LGAs we serve have been without power since 4:33 a.m. due to a facility trip,” Ekong said. He added that efforts are ongoing to restore electricity to the Aba ring-fenced area.

Addressing questions about why the company could not source electricity from the national grid, Ekong said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has completed a new substation dedicated to Geometric Power, but it is yet to be commissioned. Engineers are currently conducting final tests, with commissioning expected soon due to the urgency in Aba, a hub of domestic and multinational manufacturing.

Experts have praised Aba Power for maintaining constant and quality electricity for two months, a first in Nigeria. Former NEPA senior engineer Cliff Eneh lauded the company’s achievements, attributing the blackout to gas shortages and bureaucratic delays rather than operational inefficiency.

“I was impressed by the sophistication of Geometric Power’s facilities and the dedication of its workforce. The company could have maintained uninterrupted supply for years if not for external challenges,” Eneh noted.

The blackout underscores Nigeria’s ongoing energy challenges, particularly the country’s reliance on gas supply and delays in grid infrastructure upgrades.