The Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Solution Limited (MESL), Engr. Lamu Audu has said the firm has recovered about 69 per cent of the 1,338 megawatts (MW) capacity of Kainji and Jebba hydropower stations in Niger state.
Speaking on Monday in Minna, while playing host to the 29th power sector meeting, he said “Despite the serious challenges facing the Electricity Supply Industry, you will be glad to know that we are at 69 per cent recovery and our plants are now available with a generation capacity of 922MW.”
MESL became the concessionaire of Kainji and Jebba power stations after they took over in November 2013. Audu said the capacity of the plants were 582MW when MESL took over but had done various repairs and installation of turbines.
He said “We are also in the process of awarding the contract for the recovery of additional capacity of 96.4MW to Marubeni for the rehabilitation of Unit 2G6 at Jebba, which would commence in 2019.”
Audu also said there are plans for a reservoir and capacity expansion at the Kainji Hydropower Plant to increase installed capacity by 200MW from 760MW to 960MW.
The company’s boss lauded the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on the declaration of Eligible Customers which he said has helped the plants to sign pacts with five customers and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to deliver about 768MW power to the customers directly
“A total of 76MW was contracted under the various PPAs and so far, full payments have been received for May and June invoices issued to the Eligible Customers,” he disclosed.
The company said it is working with Engie of France to develop a photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant that will complement the two plants with 500MW.
Audu appealed for the sustenance of the N701 billion payment assurance fund to the generation companies which will terminate by December 2019.
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