PHCN Privatization: 21 shortlisted

Twenty one companies were prequalified to have their financial bids opened for the 10 distribution companies (discos) created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), rising from a meeting presided over by its chairman, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, approved their eligibility for the exercise billed to hold on October 10 in Abuja.

The meeting approved 10 companies to bid for Ikeja Disco. They are: Honeywell, Oando, Western Consortium, Integrated Energy, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, Vigeo Holdings, Gumco, African Corporation AFC & CESC, Kepco/NEDC Consortium, West Power and Gas, and Rockson Engineering Limited.

In the case of Eko Disco, six companies were pre-qualified comprising Oando, Integrated Energy, Sepco-Pacific Energy Consortium, Honeywell Energy, Kepco/NEDC, and West Power and Gas. Three bidders, Western Consortium, Integrated and Kepco/NEDC Consortium, were approved to bid for Ibadan Disco.

For Abuja Disco, Kann Consortium Utility Company Limited and Interstate Electrics Limited made the cut-off mark, while four companies - Rensmart Power Limited, Proglobal Power International Consortium, Interstate Electrics Limited and Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited - were prequalified to bid for Enugu Disco.  Aura Energy Limited made the cut-off mark to bid for Jos Disco; Sahelian Power SPV Limited was prequalified for Kano Disco; Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited were pre-qualified for Port Harcourt Disco; while Integrated Energy was the sole bidder pre-qualified for Yola Disco.

Four companies were also pre-qualified to have their financial bids opened for Benin Disco. They are: Southern Electricity Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Limited, Vigeo Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited.

FG: Overhaul of Power Sector will boost Industrialization

The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to overhaul the power sector with a view to boost industrialisation in the country. Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave the assurance while receiving the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr Kandeh Yumkella, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the State House, Abuja.

 Sambo, who commended the United Nations for its developmental agenda, said the Federal Government’s transformation agenda was geared towards addressing power-related issues, especially in the use of a holistic approach.

 A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Umar Sani, said: “Part of the strategies being employed was the use of Public Private Partnership (PPP) avenue to develop small and medium hydro-power projects.”

 The Vice-President, “stated that studies have been completed for 10 hydro-power plants and 17 more are undergoing such studies and that transaction advisers are being appointed. He said Nigeria has over 200 existing dams and that the combination of water, power and irrigation will lead to boost in both small and big business.”

 Sambo further stated that the wind-to-power pilot scheme was currently ongoing in Katsina State for 10 megawatts, stressing that government was trying other alternatives sources of energy, including waste-to-power to ensure a revolution in the power sector.