Technical partners from China, Pakistan and India have arrived Akwa Ibom State to kick start the production of electricity meters expected to hit the market in the next two months.
The company, Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited (MSMSL) came to the state just last December when its foundation stone was laid in Onna Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman of the company, Mr Zhang Loohang told journalists after a meeting with Gov, Udom Emmanuel at the weekend t Interacting in Government House, Uyo that the company which has just arrived Africa decided to site its plant in Akwa Ibom because of its strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea and attributed its establishment to the passion for making electricity available and affordable in the state by Gov.
Emmanuel since electricity holds the key to industralisation which the state government seeks to put in place for the people.
Mr. Loohang explained that Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited is a conglomerate of several companies which would partner to proffer solution to problems arising from electricity generation and distribution.
He added that the company, when operational, would produce single phase and three phase electricity meters in various configurations and mountings, light weight, slim skeletal, compact meters for pole top installation, prepayment type meters, split type electricity meters, standard one unit electricity meters, bulk electricity meters, maximum demand meters and smart electricity meters.
The company which he said is designed as a high technology hub for production, testing and servicing of electricity meters and allied products has room for expansion in a modular fashion for additional production lines to develop and assemble various models of electricity meters and accessories.
Zhang gave the assurance that the firm would help electricity distribution companies to check theft, nonpayment, unreliable billing, consumer resistance, lost of revenue, and also ensure availability of Nigeria-based products which are of high quality and accessible to its customers, in addition to creating high tech, non oil related employment thereby making a strong contribution to economic uplift of the region.
The state commissioner for investment, commerce and industry, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, noted that the meeting had lent credence to the viability of the project and gave the assurance that the first product would hit the market in the first quarter of the year.
Mr Enoidem said that first batch of the employees would be sent to China and Pakistan for training on the operations of the industry, adding that arrangements have been concluded for industries which ground breaking were performed last year to commence construction and lauded the visionary leadership of Gov. Emmanuel whom he said has lived up to his sobriquet: Mr industrialisation.