Nigeria: Power Privatisation - Rockson, Masters Energy Top Bidders' List
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has released the list of 54 companies that met the July 31 deadline for submission of technical and financial proposals for the privatisation of the 11 distribution companies (Discos) created from the unbundling of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
A statement yesterday by Head, Public Communications at the bureau, Mr. Chukwuma Nwoko, identified the companies that submitted bids for Ikeja Disco as Rockson Engineering Ltd; SEO International; Oando Consortium; Amperion Power Distribution Co Ltd; Honeywell Energy Resources International Ltd; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd; West Power & Gas Ltd; Vigeo Holdings, Gumco, African Corporation AFC & CESC Consortium; Daniel Power Plant Company Nigeria Ltd; and KEPCO/NEDC Consortium.
Rockson also submitted bids for Benin and Port Harcourt Discos, while Oando also bided for Eko Disco.
The eight other bidders for Eko are Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd; NPD Consortium; SEPCO-Pacific Energy Consortium; West Power & Gas; Electric Utilities Nigeria Ltd; KEPCO/NEDC Consortium; ENL Consortium Ltd; and Honeywell Energy Resources International Ltd.
Benin Disco attracted seven bids from Southern Electricity Distribution Company; Cable & Rods Company Nigeria Ltd; Copper Belt Consortium; Rockson Engineering Company Ltd; RENSMART Power Ltd; Duncan Freeman Company/Draytom Energy Ltd; and Vigeo Power Consortium, while seven other consortiums, Western Consortium; ENL Consortium Ltd; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd; Skipper Nigeria Ltd; ICOMM Energy Ltd; Electric Utilities Ltd; and KEPCO/NEDC Consortium submitted bids for Ibadan Disco. Skipper Nigeria Ltd also bided for Abuja and Kaduna Discos.
Other bidders for Abuja are NAHCO Power Consortium; KANN Consortium Utility Company Ltd; Interstate Electrics Ltd; and ENL Consortium Ltd.
For Enugu Disco, the bidders are Interstate Electrics Ltd; Rensmart Power Ltd; Proglobal Power International Consortium; and Eastern Electric Nigeria Ltd.
The two companies that submitted bids for Jos Disco are Masters Energy Oil & Gas Ltd; and Aura Energy Ltd.
NAHCO Energy & Power Ltd; and Skipper Nigeria Ltd were the only two companies that bided for Kaduna Disco, while Sahelian Power SPV Ltd; and Profile Energy Consortium Ltd submitted bids for Kano Disco.
Utility Integrated Management Services Ltd; Rockson Engineering Company Ltd; and Power Consortium were the three bidders for Port Harcourt , while SNECOU Group of Companies Ltd; Vivadis Power Ltd (ORTECH Consortium); and Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd bided for Yola Disco.
Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji yesterday met with workers and the management of the PHCN successor companies in a two-hour crucial meeting where he explained to them government's position in the ongoing power sector reforms.
Nnaji who was accompanied to the meeting in Abuja by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of power, Dr. Dere Awosika, and members of the government-labour negotiating panel told workers of PHCN that technically, the utility was no longer in existence.
Stating that he was on a first contact interaction with the workers in his resolve to answer questions that may have troubled their minds over the ongoing privatisation exercise, Nnaji explained to the workers that it was high time they realised that they were been deceived by officials of PHCN and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) who had since 2004 failed to remit accumulated funds from the 25 percent deducted from their salaries into their pension scheme.
Noting that from calculation, the PHCN in-house operated pension fund should have accumulated about N88 billion, Nnaji stated that sadly the fund was grossly underfunded and can hardly boast of N3 billion as at now.
The minister told the gathering that the power sector reform has got to a critical stage and government would go all the way to conclude it.
FG assures on improved power supply
Benedict Alli
The Federal Government says that the ongoing reform of the power sector is setting up structures that will bring about a sustained increase in the power going to the National grid.
The Minister for Power Professor Barth Nnaji said this while inspecting Ihovbor Power Plant, one of the National Integrated Power Projects sited in Benin City.
The Minister told journalist that the current decline in power supply across the Nation is as a result of the shortage of water supply to the hydro power plants owing to the drought in the Northern part of the continent.
He also conceded that most power plants are facing shortage of gas and the recent declaration of emergency in the gas sector by the Ministry of Petroleum is geared towards addressing the challenge.
He however said competent workers need not fear the ongoing privatisation of the power sector as the exercise will create more opportunities that will require the expertise they possess in their field.
Work commenced on the power plant in 2005 as part of measures improve Nigeria's power supply.
Though the work at the main power plant is 99% complete the delay arises from the contractor handling the switch yard who is currently facing problems of compensation over a community shrine that is on the right of way of the cable line.
The Minister in a telephone interview got the contractor to commit that by the first week of June their own end of the contract will be ready. However in the meantime a 500Kva Generator will be provided to ensure the smooth running of work on the plant.
The completion of similar power plants in Omotosho and other parts of the country raised the issue of gas supply to these power plants, this the Minister said is currently being addressed.
With the removal of fuel subsidy and the protest that trailed the increase in fuel price still fresh in the minds of Nigerians reporters were eager to verify a rumored increase in electricity tariff across the Nation.
The Minister who also addressed the concerns of the labour unions on the privatisation ofr the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) said arrangements have been made to ensure that no worker is left without employment at the end of the privatisation exercise.
The Ihovbor Power Plant is expected to inject 450 Mega Watts of electricity into the National grid when completed probably sometime this year