Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State has said that over 200 investors had started jostling for the 10 National Independent Power Plants to be privatised by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
Suswan said this at the ongoing National Independent Power Projects Privatisation Road Show in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to him: “Two hundred entrepreneurs have expressed interest in the 10 gas-fired power plants with a combined design capacity in excess of 5,453 mega watts.
“About 53 per cent of the NDPHC plants are owned by the state and the local governments, while the Federal Government owns the remaining 47 per cent.”
While assuring of a transparent privatisation process, Suswan, a member of the NDPHC Board of Directors, said the road show was to showcase the potential of the nation’s power sector to investors.
“We are starting from Lagos, followed by London, US and Hong kong,” he said.
Suswan said that the road show was intended to encourage the private sector in Nigeria and the banks to grow.
According to him, expression of interest will end on July 19, 2012.
NAN reports that the 10 power plants with their mega watts capacity to be privatised are Omotoso – 450MW, Sapele – 450MW, Geregu – 434MW, Olorunsogo – 750MW, and Ihovbor – 450MW.
Others are Gbarain – 225MW, Alaoji – 450MW, Calabar – 561MW, Egbema – 338MW and Omoku – 225MW.
Also speaking at the show, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, advised the potential investors gathered at the road show to immediately contact the governors of the states where the power plants were located.
Uduaghan said that the potential investors to develop a security master plan for their operations.
He said: “Although most of the power plants are located in the Niger Delta area, we are assuring investors that the Niger Delta is now safe for investment.
“I also assure the possible investors of the safety of their investments in Niger Delta area.”
Uduaghan, however, urged current and potential investors in the NDPHC power plants to endeavour to have a cordial relationship with host communities of the power plants.
Over 200 investors are jostling for 10 NDPHC power plants – Suswan
