Stakeholders Express Worry Over Blackout In Calabar EPZ

The Calabar Export Processing Zone (EPZ), has been thrown into utter darkness following the inability of the management to meet its financial obligations.

The EPZ our findings reveal was thrown into darkness following its inability to meet its obligations to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc, the DISCO supplying energy to the EPZ Community.

We gathered that trouble began when the EPZ started under paying for their electricity consumption on the pretense that they doubt the integrity of the PHED metering.

It was at this point that NEMSA – Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, NEMSA, was invited to check the accuracy of the metering, and following NEMSA’s report, reconciliation was done and a demand was made on the EPZ for the outstanding payments.

Despite the report confirming the accuracy of the PHED meter reading and the reconciliation achieved by NEMSA, the EPZ has refused to pay the outstanding arrears of N71, 965,299 owed PHED.

Consequently, power supply to the complex was disconnected, leaving the entire EPZ community in total darkness, and despite several entreaties made to the EPZ, they are yet to make payment due to mismanagement and alleged internal fraud rocking the organisation.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the complex have begun agitating; describing the situation as worrisome and very disturbing.