The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has expressed interest in the acquisition of the power plants put up for sale by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs).
The company’s Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, who disclosed this when he led top management team of the entity on a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in Abuja at the weekend, said the company had the requite expertise and experience to be an active participant in the power sector in Nigeria.
He explained that as an oil company and enabler organisation, NNPCL was determined to boost power generation and supply in the country through increased investment, hence it had signed a contract with China Machinery Engineering Company (CME) and General Electric, (GE) to provide 50 MegaWatts (MW) of electricity to Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, the management of the company is also determined to run it efficiently and profitably for the benefit of the shareholders.
To achieve this, Kyari hinted that plans were ongoing to make the company engage in activities that will generate funds, stressing that in the power sector, “NNPCL is a partner of choice”.
Kyari also maintained that the organisation was ready to collaborate with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), after the audit of some of its assets, for the sale and divestment of those assets through the BPE.
The NNPCL boss explained that the planned audit would be carried out by renowned and reputable audit firms.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, disclosed that the NNPCL had indicated interest in the acquisition of some NIPP plants and would be given a level playing ground to compete with other bidders.
Okoh said that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) would be notified of the desire of the NNPCL to bid for the NIPP plants.
