The Senate has said the process that would lead to the repair of the country’s refineries must be open, competitive and transparent, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The conditions were set, following the adoption of the report of a Senate adhoc committee chaired by Senator Abubakar Kyari on the planned concession of the Port Harcourt refinery to AGIP/ENI and Oando by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The Upper legislative chamber said any process that fails to meet the conditions set would be construed as ‘‘backdoor’’ transfer of the asset to a preferred investor.
The Senate resolved that the discussions with ENI/NAOC with respect to revamping of Port Harcourt refinery must be discontinued forthwith and that an open, competitive and transparent process should be put in place to ensure that the nation derives the full benefits of involving private sector investors.
“That competent independent technical consultants should be engaged to review the diagnostic report (under preparation) on Port Harcourt refinery and recommend a suitable strategy for attracting private sector investment, taking into consideration re-appraised rehabilitation cost estimates, environmental concerns of host communities and labour issues,” it stated.
It insisted that public invitation for bids under clearly spelt out terms and conditions should be re-advertised.
“That the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) should collaborate for national interest in accordance with extant laws, “the Senate said.
