Hydro-power plants operators must provide CSR to host communities — FG

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) says it will collaborate with the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to better the lot of host communities of Hydro-Power Plants in the country.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Alex A.Okoh who gave the pledge in Abuja on Wednesday, when members of the commission paid a courtesy visit to the Bureau, said the BPE would ensure that operators of the Hydro-Power Plants execute their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the benefit of the host communities.

• FEC earmarks $1.484bn for Kaduna, Warri refineries rehabilitation
• PODCAST: How Internal Wranglings Threaten To Tear PDP

Okoh who was represented by the Director, Energy at the Bureau, Mr Yunana J. Malo, expressed delight at the inauguration of the commission by the Federal Government to resolve environmental, economic and social challenges of host communities of Hydro-Power Plants.

On the request by the Commission for the payment of 10 per cent royalty accruable to it as enshrined in the law setting up HYPPADEC, the Director-General said both agencies would look at possible ways to handle the issue, noting that all revenues generated by the Bureau in the sale of public assets were usually transmitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said the visit was to find ways to get the 10 per cent royalty statutorily enshrined in its statute.