DEADLINE: 3RD OCTOBER, 2022
MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT
NO. 2, LUANDA CRESCENT, OFF ADETOKUNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT, WUSE II, ABUJA, F.C.T., NIGERIA.
NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE- COMPETITIVE TENDER FOR SELECTION OF BIDDERS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA’S DELINEATED BITUMEN BLOCKS
(1) BACKGROUND
The Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN” or the “Government”), in its determination to diversify the economy, has identified the mining sector as one of the strategic sectors for rapid growth and development. The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) has embarked on the development of the country’s bitumen resources stretching from Lagos through Ogun and Ondo to Edo State the Nigerian bitumen belt- which lies on the onshore part of the Dahomey Basin in the southwestern part of the country. The belt stretches over an area of at least 120 km by 4km making it one of the most abundantly deposited mineral resources of huge economic potential in the country. The Nigerian bitumen belt is reportedly the second largest of such deposits in the world with a reserve ranging from 13 to 42 billion barrels estimated at different times. The area has been divided into three (3) main blocks A, B and C further partitioned into 12, 2 and 18 sub-blocks respectively, for ease of transaction management by MMSD.
(2) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION (RFQ) DEADLINE
The Federal Government’s key objectives are to ensure that Nigeria’s Bitumen resources are fully harnessed for domestic industrial and infrastructural development as well as export. Following this, the government commenced a competitive bidding process to develop Nigeria’s bitumen resources by issuing a Request for Qualification (RFQ) on Monday 04 July 2022 requesting for local and international investors with the pre-requisite technical, technological, and financial expertise to bid for the bitumen blocks in Nigeria. The initial submission deadline for the RFQ was Friday 12 August 2022.
However, upon stakeholders’ consultations and receipt of requests for extension of the submission deadline, the MMSD wishes to announce that the Request for Qualification (RfO) submission date has now been extended to Monday 03 October 2022. The submission deadline date has been extended to enable potential investors have ample time to prepare their submission. The eligibility requirements are outlined below as follows.
(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Reputable and suitably qualified local and international investors with pre-requisite technical experience, technological expertise and financial capacity to carry out bitumen resource development to a meaningful level, are hereby invited to respond to this Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the Selection of Bidders for the Development of Nigeria’s Delineated Bitumen Blocks.
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
(i) Certified true copies of the current Form CAC including form CAC1.1, CAC2 and CAC7 or foreign equivalent.
(ii) Copy of firm’s Tax Clearance Certificate as issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of Nigeria (or foreign equivalent) for the last three years valid till 31 December 2021 (or foreign equivalent).
(iii) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31 December 2021 (or foreign equivalent).
(iv) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31 December 2021 (or foreign equivalent)
(v) Copy of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31 December 2021 (or foreign equivalent).
(vi) Copy of the firm’s current registration issued by relevant regulatory professional body like COREN or foreign equivalent.
(vii) Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committee of the MMSD, NGSA or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in Its hid are true and correct in all particulars.
(viii) Sworn Affidavit that the company is not subject to any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any winding down petitions or proceedings
TECHNICAL CAPACITY
To demonstrate technical capacity and experience in the entire bitumen value chain, the Applicant/Consortium shall have, over the past five (5) years preceding the deadline for submission of the Application:
(a) Evidence of track record in bitumen assay/testing for asphalt usage
(b) Evidence of track record in Bitumen exploration and extraction (surface and in situ)
(c) Experience in bitumen refining capabilities
(d) Experience of experience in asphalt binder market/sales and/or ability to secure offtakers
(e) Experience in emerging markets will be an added advantage (List all relevant track records)
(f) An applicant or in the case of a Consortium, all members nominated must provide evidence of compliance with applicable environmental, social and governance, (ESG) sustainability guidelines
FINANCIAL CAPACITY
The Applicant shall provide:
(i) documentary evidence that it is in a good financial position at the close of the preceding financial year with balance sheet assets of US25million and can provide the required equity funding having regard to its contemplated financing of the exploration, development, and operation of Bitumen Mining site and ancillary facilities
(ii) Documentary evidence, including but not limited to, a letter of financial support from a credible financial institution that supports its ability to provide debt funding for the Project.
(iii) The member(s) of the Consortium that is (are) nominated to be the financier of the Project, should satisfy the above conditions of eligibility.
(iv) Alternatively, the Consortium Lead shall provide documentary evidence of good financial standing and that it can provide the required equity funding; and provide documentary evidence, including but not limited to, a letter of financial support from a credible financial institution that supports the proportional debt threshold in the Consortium.
(4) METHOD OF APPLICATION
Complete RFQ Package will be available to interested applicants upon registration at bitumen.ngsa.gov.ng. Applicants are expected to prepare an RFQ Application using the available forms without any alteration to its format,
(5) ENQUIRIES/CLARIFICATIONS
Request for clarifications on any information contained in the RFQ Package may be sought via email not later than 11:59 hours West African Time GMT+1, Monday, 26 Sept 2022. All such communication between the Applicant through its designated contact person and Transaction Advisors/Programme Managers shall be through the following email ng_mmsd_bitumenlicenseprocurement@pwc.com. All clarification provided will be communicated to all applicants.
(6) METHOD OF SUBMISSION
The completed hard and soft copy RFQ Application shall be submitted at a physical location and via a dedicated project email respectively not later than 4:00pm., West African Time (GMT-1) on Monday, 03 October 2022.
- The envelope containing all three (3) copies (one original and two copies) of the RFQ Application and the required supporting documents shall be dearly marked “Request for Qualification (RFQ) Application for the Selection of Bidders of the Delineated Bitumen Blocks” on the top right-hand corner on the front of the envelope and the Bidder’s name/address a! the back of the envelope, and should be addressed to the undersigned;
SIGNED
CHAIRMAN,
BITUMEN COMMITTEE/
DIRECTOR-GENERAL. MINING CADASTRE OFFICE (MCO)
37 LOBITO CRESCENT; OFF ADEMOLA ADETOKUNBO CRESCENT,
WUSE II, ABUJA NIGERIA
FOR HONOURABLE MINISTER,
MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT
