Chairman of BFIG Group and winner of the privatisation bid of the Aluminum Smelting Company (ALSCON), Ikot-Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, Dr Reuben Mietamuno Jaja says the plant is set to transform the Niger Delta.

Dr Mietamuno Jaja made the assertion on Monday while chatting with newsmen in Port Harcourt over the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed the company as the rightful owners of the recently privatised aluminum plant.

The American-based business mogul said with the Supreme Court judgement, the BFIG Group has commenced the take over of the plant, as he enumerated the huge benefit that will accrue to the Niger Delta.

Dr Jaja described ALSCON as a key asset industrial plant that will spark off more industrialisation activities including environment and job creation.

He said, “ALSCON is a factory that is powered by turbines designed to use gas. So the flared gas that have degraded the environment was supposed to be used to power the plant and that way contribute to the effort of cleaning up the environmental issues in the region.”

The chairman of the BFIG Group promised that it would strive to accomplish the main objective of which the factory was established through the creation of jobs and stimulating other adjunct businesses.

“One thing I have always tried to emphasise is that, the primary impact areas covering Bonny, Andoni, Ogoni, Opobo and Ibibio,” Dr Jaja said, “so our goal will be to maximise the potentials of the company, in terms of embarking on full production, so as to increase and expand our employment base and give the people of the region a hope.”

In addition to that, he assured once the company concludes the acquisition of the plant it will promote the welfare of workers as expected of an American firm, while dismissing views of insecurity in the region, “there is no part of the world that we do not see insecurity… But we feel there is need to be a good corporate citizen. We feel that the host community must have a stake in what we do.”

The American based business mogul hinted that the final acquisition process have begun, but that all parties have to sort out very critical issues to ensure smooth operations.

For him, the federal government stand to benefit immensely form the plant, since it will reduce government reliance on oil and diversify the economy.

Following the sale of the plant in 2004, the federal government still holds 15 per cent share, while BFIG has a majority share of 77.5 with other shareholders having 7.5 per cent. The plant is designed for 200,000 metric tonnes of aluminum yearly.