We would like to explain the thinking behind our planting of electricity poles in Umunneochi.
1) Power supply to Umunneochi requires significant improvement.
2) Working with EEDC and State Government relevant contacts, we determined that while we continue with the remedial measures on power supply from Oji River, our best opportunity for development is to connect to the Mbalano Electricity Project which is expected to be commissioned in about 18 months.
3) With Mbalano, Umunneochi will be connected to power supply at Leru, which should be more effective because of its proximity.
4) Mbalano will integrate energy supply from the national grid and Geometrics, which when running at its three-turbines’ full capacity, will have excess energy to harness for the development of Abia State.
5) The scoping of the electricity requirements was professional and determined by our EEDC contacts. We had several challenge sessions to ensure that we have the best outcomes.
6) We have virtually completed the planting of poles (204) for the first phase.
7) We expect the second phase to start this July, to cover all the areas technically scoped by our EEDC Advisers. We have received notes from people who said their places were not covered. Except for one or two cases, all the other places are in scope and will be covered in the second phase. The other will examined by our EEDC Advisers and determined accordingly.
8) We also asked our EEDC team to scope Umunneochi transformer requirements, and they did. We plan to buy the transformers directly from Siemens Energy and distribute them to where they are required.
9) Please, accept the assurances of our best regards.
Ndubuisi Ike,
10 July 2024.
