I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1529

To authorize assistance for electric power utility privatization efforts in the

Federal Republic of Nigeria.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 4, 2001

Mr. TRAFICANT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

A BILL

To authorize assistance for electric power utility privatization

efforts in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nigeria Electric Power

5 Utility Privatization Act of 2001’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress makes the following findings:

8 (1) It is desirable that the Federal Republic of

9 Nigeria begin a transition to private sector-managed

10 electric power generation and transmission.
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1 (2) Nigeria currently suffers from a shortage of

2 electric power generation.

3 (3) Power outages are an impediment to eco4 nomic development in Nigeria and place United

5 States investment at risk.

6 SEC. 3. STATEMENTS OF POLICY.

7 Congress declares the following:

8 (1) Privatization of the electric power gener9 ating industry in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is

10 important to the long-term needs of Nigeria and the

11 interests of the United States.

12 (2) Involvement of state governments in Nigeria

13 is critical to the desired result of moving Nigeria to

14 a private sector-managed electric power utility indus15 try.

16 (3) The affordability and cost-effectiveness of

17 the strategy to privatize the electric power gener18 ating industry in Nigeria are dependent upon the de19 velopment of new infrastructure and cooperation

20 with national and local policy decisionmakers and

21 the private sector.
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1 SEC. 4. PROGRAM TO FACILITATE ELECTRIC POWER UTIL2 ITY PRIVATIZATION EFFORTS IN THE STATE

3 OF KOGI, NIGERIA.

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President, acting

5 through the Administrator of the United States Agency

6 for International Development, is authorized to establish

7 a program to provide assistance to the Government of the

8 Federal Republic of Nigeria for the purpose of facilitating

9 electric power utility privatization efforts in the State of

10 Kogi, Nigeria.

11 (b) CONDUCT.—In carrying out the program under

12 subsection (a), the President shall ensure that the fol13 lowing requirements are met:

14 (1) Assistance provided under the program will

15 be used for the construction of a natural gas fired

16 power plant to be located in the State of Kogi.

17 (2) The Government of Kogi State will provide

18 an appropriate site with necessary infrastructure to

19 operate the power plant.

20 (3) The Government of Kogi State will provide

21 within or adjacent to the power plant site areas for

22 the location of additional power generation units

23 that are owned and financed by private nongovern24 mental organizations.

25 (4) The Government of Kogi State will initially

26 own the power plant facility but will divest itself of
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1 the facility to the private sector not later than ten

2 years after the date on which the plant becomes

3 operational. The plant will be considered to be oper4 ational beginning on the first day on which the plant

5 exports power generated to any customer or elec6 trical grid.

7 (5) The majority of the equipment and other

8 products utilized in the construction of the power

9 plant shall be American-made.

10 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to amounts oth12 erwise available for the purposes of this section,

13 there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out

14 this section $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.

15 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pur16 suant to the authorization of appropriations under

17 paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available

18 until expended.

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