National Council on Privatisation shortlists 21 bidders for electricity distribution firms

The National Council on Privatisation on Tuesday shortlisted 21 bidders for 10 out of the 11 electricity distribution firms in the country.

The decision was taken at the council’s meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A member of the NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the firms shortlisted would be invited to the financial bid opening scheduled for October 10, 2012 upon the submission of their individual post-qualification studies.

According to him, the firms shortlisted for the Ibadan Distribution Company include Western Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company and Kepco/NEDC Consortium.

For the Ikeja Distribution Company, the shortlisted firms are Oando Consortium, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, Honeywell Energy Resources International Limited, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, Vigeo Holdings, Gumco, African Corporation AFC &CESC, Kepco/NEDC Consortium, West Power and Gas as well Rockson Engineering Limited.

Peterside said Kann Consortium Utility Company Limited and Interstate Electrics Limited were shortlisted for the Abuja Distribution Company.

For the Enugu Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Limited, Proglobal Power International Consortium, Interstate Electrics Limited and Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited were shortlisted.

Only Aura Energy Limited was shortlisted for the Jos Distribution Company.

The Eko Distribution Company had the following firms shortlisted: Oando Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, Sepco-Pacific Energy Consortium, Honeywell Energy Resources International Limited, Kepco/NEDC Consortium and West Power and Gas.

For the Port Harcourt Distribution Company, Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited were shortlisted.

Only Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company was shortlisted for the Yola Distribution Company; while only Sahelian Power SPV Limited was shortlisted for the Kano Distribution Company.

Southern Electricity Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Limited, Vigeo Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited were shortlisted for the Benin Distribution Company.

Peterside said none of the two bids received for the Kaduna Distribution Company was technically qualified.

He said the Bureau of Public Enterprises would, therefore, invite fresh bids from pre-qualified bidders that paid the required $20,000 fee for the bid documents in accordance with the Plan B in respect of the privatisation of any unsold successor company.

He explained that the shortlisted firms scaled the hurdle with a minimum of 75%.

Peterside said the council’s assessment was based on facts that had been verified, which included the bidders’ tax clearance status and audited accounts, among others.

He added that the NCP would not hesitate to disqualify any shortlisted firm if any falsehood was discovered in their claims along the line.

Peterside said the council also carried out the reevaluation of the Afam Power Plant and discovered that all the three bidders failed to attain the pass mark.

Peterside, who was joined at the briefing by the Director-General, BPE, Ms Bola Onagoruwa; and Minister of State for Power, Mr. Gaius Dickson, said the council had, therefore, decided to stay action on the plant.