The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) as the preferred bidder for the concession of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power plant (ZHPP) for a fee of $USD70,000.25 per year for a period of 30 years.
According to a statement signed by Ibeh, Uzoma Chidi, the Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Council, chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN), gave the approval at its second meeting for the year 2023, held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja
The meeting directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to commence the negotiations and execution of the concession agreement with the preferred bidder.
MESL got 1142 marks (94.3%) of the total 1,200 marks, thus surpassing the minimum benchmark score of 75% of 1,200 marks, having offered the highest concession fee of $USD70,000.25 to beat Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited Consortium (APPNLC) which scored 742 points,according to the statement.
The NCP, had at its 7th meeting for the year 2020, held on December 21, 2020, approved the concession of the ZHPP, consequent which the Federal Ministry of Power (FMOP) donated an irrevocable Power of Attorney to the BPE on June 30, 2021 for the implementations of the NCP’s decision.
The BPE published the Requests for Qualifications (RfQ) for the concession of the power plant in three national newspapers on October 27, 2022 which at the close of the deadline, 11 firms submitted bids.
Three of them – Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited Consortium (APPNLC), Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL and North-South Power Consortium (NSP) were prequalified.
Besides, the NCP has approved A scheme of External Restructuring proposed by KEPCO Energy Resources Nigeria Limited (KERNL), the core Investor in Egbin Power Plant.
According to the statement,the approval will enable the entity to boost its capacity to raise the required capital to double the existing capacity of the plant to 2640MW.
