BPE, stakeholders resolve major problem of gas

  PAULETTE ORJIME, Abuja

BUREAU of Public Enterprises (BPE) and other critical stakeholders of the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot Ibasi, Awka Ibom State are reaching a comprehensive resolution on the major teething problem of gas confronting the Company making it possible for the ALSCON to be set to recommence operations.

The Bureau has requested the Federal Government to consider and approve the categorisation of ALSCON under a strategic industry to enable it buy gas at a concessionary price as opposed to the commercial price to enable   the core investor in the company- DHL/RUSAL recommence production and operate profitably.

In a statement delivered to Daily Champion at the weekend in Abuja and endorsed by  Amina Tukur Othman,   Head, Public Communications, Mr. Alex Okoh, the Director- General  of BPE  who disclosed this recalled that following the signing of Addendum No.2 to the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) on 17th January, 2018, at the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), DHL/RUSAL submitted a Road map detailing issues that require urgent resolution prior to the commencement of operations which include but not limited to the issue of gas price and supply.

According to him, “Upon the resolution of the gas price and supply issues a new agreement will be signed in line with current realities. It will also take into consideration the trend internationally to allow ALSCON remain competitive in the global aluminum products market. ”

He assured that once the gas issue is fully resolved and the agreement signed, President Muhammad Buhari would in the next few weeks commission the plant to signal the recommencement of operations by ALSCON.

ALSCON is perhaps the biggest industrial complex in Akwa Ibom State and indeed the South South region with the potential to generate thousands o0f jobs in the area. The resuscitation of production at the plant is one of the key priorities of the administration of President Buhari and has attracted focused attention having been comatose for more than 10 years.

It is expected that once the company goes full swing, it will serve as a catalyst to the development and growth of the Aluminum industry in Nigeria, create employment, conserve FOREX, serve the automobile and allied industries and create spin-off industries in Nigeria.

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