Nigeria Content Online

The federal government at the weekend invited
prospective investors in the 11 electricity distribution companies
slated for privatisation under the Power Holding Company of Nigeria
(PHCN) to formally make their bids.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises said yesterday that
the sale, to be carried out through international competitive bidding,
will cover the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Benin
Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution
Company Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Ibadan
Electricity Distribution Company Plc, and Ikeja Electricity
Distribution Company Plc.

Others include Jos Electricity Distribution Company
Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kano Electricity
Distribution Company Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution
Company Plc; and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.

Similarly, requests have also been issued inviting
prospective core investors as concessionaires in the country’s thermal
and hydro power stations, including 972 mega watts (MW) capacity
Ughelli Power Plc in Delta State; the 414 MW Geregu Power Plc in Kogi
State; the 776 MW Afam Power Plc, comprising of Afam I-V power stations
located in Rivers State; and the 1020 MW Sapele Power Plc in Sapele,
Delta State.

The Hydro Power Generating Companies also slated for
concession include Kainji Power Plc, comprising Kainji Power Plants
located in Niger state, and Jebba Power Plants in Kwara State as well
as the Shiroro Power Plc at the Shiroro Gorge, Niger State.

February deadline

Conditions spelt out by BPE for prospective investors
include that: “Potential bidders should be existing power distribution
companies or core investor groups with power distribution companies as
long-term technical partners”, adding that “successful bidders will be
responsible for operating the distribution companies, making the
necessary investments to improve the distribution network and customer
service in line with the objectives of the Federal Government of
Nigeria set out in the National Electric Power Policy (NEPP).”

For the power generating companies, the bureau said
potential bidders/concessionaires, who should be existing local and/or
international power generators or investors with power generators as
long-term technical partners, would be responsible for operating the
station, improving the generation capacity and making the necessary
investments in line with the objectives of the federal government of
Nigeria set out in the NEPP.

The deadline for receipt of applications in respect of the distribution and generating companies is February 18, 2011.

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had, last
July, approved the shortlist of Power Grid of India, ESB International
of Ireland and Manitoba Hydro of Canada to bid for the Transmission
Company of Nigeria (TCN) management contract.

TCN is one of the 18 PHCN successor companies, which combines
functions considered central to the sustainability and development of
the country’s electricity sector; as transmission services provider, a
system operator and a market operator.