An unresolved dispute over payment for gas supply from Savannah Energy to Ibom Power Company (IPC) has plunged Akwa Ibom State into a blackout.

While recent nationwide power outages caused by the collapse of the national grid have impacted other regions, Ibom Power had previously kept the state running on Island Mode, unaffected by the grid?s failure. However, the company confirmed on Thursday that the ongoing statewide outage, which began Wednesday, was due to a lack of gas to operate the state-owned power plant.

Meyen Etukudo, Managing Director and CEO of Ibom Power, issued a statement accusing Savannah Energy of cutting off gas supply to the Ibom Power plant. He explained, ?This loss of gas supply coincided with a reported fault on the 132kV Itu-Aba Transmission Line, which is responsible for transporting power from the national grid to the state, leading to the blackout.?

While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is working to fix the fault on the 132kV line, which would allow power to flow into Akwa Ibom from the national grid, Etukudo revealed that Ibom Power has been in talks with Savannah Energy to restore the gas supply. However, Savannah Energy has insisted on halting gas provision due to claims of underpayment by Ibom Power.

At the time of filing this report, Savannah Energy had not yet issued a formal response to the allegations, though a source confirmed that reconciliation discussions were ongoing between the two companies.

?The reconciliation meetings are focused on invoiced payments between Ibom Power and Savannah. These discussions are continuing while the plant remains shut. However, Savannah is insisting on withholding gas supply while the disagreements are being worked out,? the source explained.

The situation has been further complicated by the ongoing fault in the section of the national grid supplying power to Akwa Ibom from Aba to Itu. With no power coming from either the national grid or the Ibom Power plant, the state is facing a critical power shortage.

?The plant is functioning properly; it is only the gas supply that was cut off by Savannah,? the source added. (Vanguard)

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