Transcorp, GE sign agreement to address power challenge

A power transmission infrastructure
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Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc and General Electric have signed a framework agreement to collaborate in addressing the infrastructural needs of Nigeria, with emphasis on the power and transportation sectors.

In a statement sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Thursday, GE, a global leader in the design, manufacture and maintenance of technology and services for the power sector, confirmed its commitment to facilitate the generation of 10,000MW of additional power in Nigeria over the next decade.

This, the company said, was in line with its existing agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria, signed in March 2012.

Transcorp Ughelli Power Plc is a subsidiary of Transcorp, a publicly quoted and diversified conglomerate with strategic investments in the hospitality, agribusiness and energy sectors. TUP won the privatization bid for 100 per cent acquisition of the Ughelli power plant.

 The framework agreement, which was signed following a closed door meeting with GE’s Global Chairman, Mr. Jeffrey Immelt, and Transcorp’s Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, will enable GE and Transcorp to explore a partnership for the refurbishment and expansion of the Ughelli power plant in Delta State.

 The statement added that the wide ranging agreement allowed for the provision of technical support and equity investment in the power plant.  Otherareas of collaboration include projects in the transport sector, specificallyin the area of rail.

Commenting on the partnership agreement, Elumelu, said, “Heirs Holdings recently hosted the USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah in Lagos to discuss how the US government can partner with the Nigerian private sector to boost power generation in Nigeria. The agreement we have just signed with GE is a positive step toward the realiaation of this goal.

“As an Africapitalist, I believe in long term investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth. Our partnership with GE comes on the heels of last week’s launch of the East Africa Exchange by Heirs Holdings and Berggruen Holdings, and further signifies our commitment to sustainable economic development, for Africa, by Africans.”

He added, that power and transport were two major areas that can turn economies and drive development.

On his part, Immelt confirmed GE’s focus on Nigeria as a key market saying, “We chose to partner with Transcorp because it is an Africancompany with an investment philosophy that will drive change here and in the rest of Africa.”