The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has shortlisted 21 bidders for 10 electricity distribution firms in Nigeria.
The decision was taken at the council’s meeting presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo on Tuesday.
A member of the council, Atedo Peterside, said the firms shortlisted would be invited to the financial bid opening stage scheduled for 10 October upon the submission of their individual post qualification study.
The firms shortlisted for the Ibadan distribution company included 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 as Rockson Engineering Limited.
Mr Peterside said Kann Consortium Utility Company Limited and Interstate Electrics Limited were shortlisted for Abuja Distribution Company.
For 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 Jos Distribution Company.
For Eko Distribution Company, the following firms were 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 Port Harcourt Distribution Company, Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited were shortlisted.
Only Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company was shortlisted for Yola distribution company while only Sahelian Power SPV Limited was shortlisted for Kano Distribution Company.
Southern Electricity Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Limited, Vigeo Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering Limited were shortlisted for Benin Distribution Company.
Mr Peterside said that none of the two bids received for the Kaduna Distribution Company was technically qualified.
He said the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) would therefore invite fresh bids from all the pre qualified bidders in accordance with plan B in respect of the privatisation of any unsold successor company.
This, he added, is to invite fresh bids from all the shortlisted bidders that paid the required $20,000 fee for the bid documents.
He explained that the firms shortlisted scaled the hurdle with a minimum of 75 per cent.
He said their assessment was based on facts that have been verified which included their tax clearance and audited account among others.
Mr Peterside added that the NCP would not hesitate to disqualify any shortlisted firm if any falsehood was discovered in their claims along the line.
He said that the Council also carried out the re-evaluation of Afam Power Plant and discovered that all the three bidders failed to attain the pass mark.
He said that the NCP had therefore decided to stay action on the plant.
Mr Peterside was joined at the briefing by the Director-General of BPE Bola Onagoruwa and the Minister of State, Power, Gaius Dickson.