Introduction
Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL), located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is a petrochemicals complex originally fully-owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and commissioned in 1996. Although constructed to international standards, located to take advantage of Nigeria’s abundant supplies of natural gas, and designed to manufacture products for which there was consistently high demand, EPCL was never managed properly, at no time operated to its potential, and was a significant loss maker and drain on the State treasury.
Pre-privatisation documents indicate that EPCL had an untenable debt burden, needed capital investment, and would not be profitable for its buyer for several years.
In 2006, EPCL was privatised by the sale of 75% of its shares to a core investor through a competitive bidding process. Little international interest was attracted. The company was sold to Indorama Group without liabilities which were retained by the FGN. The company was handed over on October 26, 2006
