Abia Converts Waste To Power, Exits National Grid Control — Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said the state is no longer affected by national grid collapses, citing investments in renewable energy generated from organic waste.

While addressing journalists at the Government House in Umuahia, the Governor explained that waste products are now being converted into biogas-powered electricity for residents.

He said Abia has also assumed full control of its electricity regulation, following the takeover of power oversight by the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on December 24.

According to him, the new arrangement, accepted by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company allows the state to regulate power generation, transmission and distribution independently.

“This is a pilot programme. Instead of throwing away waste, we can turn it into clean energy, and we will be able to power a lot of places, particularly the Umuhaia in-farms.

“I had reported earlier that our offers to EEDC have been accepted, and we are in the process of raising the funds to pay off EEDC.

“On the 24th of December, the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority took over the regulation of power from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. So everything about distribution, generation, and transmission is going to be regulated within the state.

“The whole idea is to ensure regulation efficiency and independence in the state, just like the Aba Power provides power for the Aba in-farms.

“I am sure you would have been aware that some of the disasters (national grid collapses) that happened recently, our state was not affected, because a whole part of our power assets is within our authority,” Otti said.