The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has expressed interest to participate in the acquisition of power plants under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) put up for sale by the Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, disclosed this when he led the management team of the oil company on a courtesy visit to the BPE in Abuja.
Kyari said the NNPC had the requisite expertise and experience to be an active participant in the power sector in Nigeria. He stated that as an oil company and enabler organisation, the NNPC was determined to boost power generation and supply to Nigerian homes through increased investment.
To achieve this, Kyari said the national oil company had signed a contract with China Machinery Engineering Company and General Electric to provide 50 megawatts of electricity to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“According to him (Kyari), the management of NNPC is determined to run the organisation efficiently and profitably for the benefit of the shareholders, hence it plans to engage in activities that will generate funds and for the power sector,” the statement read in part.
The NNPC boss said his organisation was ready to collaborate with the bureau after the audit of some of its assets for the sale and divestment of those assets through the BPE.
The GMD added that the planned audit would be carried out by renowned and reputable audit firms.
The Director-General, BPE, Alex Okoh, said the NNPC had indicated an interest in the acquisition of some NIPP plants and would be given a level-playing ground to compete with other bidders.
Okoh said the National Council on Privatisation would be notified of the desire by the NNPC to bid for the NIPP plants.
The statement indicated that the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari, was part of the courtesy visit.