‘Kainji GenCo generates 440MW electricity, to add 80MW soon’

Kainji hydropower Generating Company (GenCo) now has 440 megawatts (MW) capacity since its privatisation in 2013 and will add 80MW by 2019, the concessionaire, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) for the plant and Jebba GenCo said.
Officials of MESL disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Kainji plant in Niger state. Operations Supervisor at Kainji plant, Engr. Oladele Sunday said the investors met zero capacity of both plants at the takeover but initiated a recovery plan that has recovered four Generating Turbines (GT) producing 440MW with General Electric (GE) beginning recovery process for the fifth turbine to add 80MW.
Speaking on the rising water level at the reservoirs sited on the River Niger, an official of the Hydrology Department, Engr Adeniji Adekunjo assured of controlled spilling of excess water from the dam to forestall flooding.
The officials of MESL said the water spilling occurs when the reservoirs is filled and the plants are asked to ramp down electricity generation because the Distribution Companies (DisCos) can’t take more power to supply to customers.
“We are spilling now due to flood control and our Community Relations Officer (CRO) has alerted the communities around the banks of the river on safety issues during the period,” Adekunjo said.
He said Kainji reservoir has 15 billion cubic meter water capacity of about 135 kilometres, extending to Yauri in Kebbi state where many communities were compensated in the 1960s but still live around the river banks.
He urged communities to vacate the flood plains where the river overflows noting that, “This year, the rainfall pattern in West Africa is so much that rivers are overflowing their banks.”
The CRO, Ahmed Lawal mentioned new resettlements in the reservoir areas to include Fakum, Awuru, Yauri among others where residents prefer doing business at the old sites near the river after compensation.
He said MESL through its Mainstream Foundation has been engaging them through Community Consultative Forums (CCF) using multiple media platforms to forestall flooding.
On the durability and safety of Kainji Dam, the Civil and Dam Safety Supervisor, Mr Babani Amadu said MESL uses international standard to monitor instrumentations that controls pressure and operation of the dam to guarantee safety of lives and properties.
The Acting Maintenance Manager at Kainji, Engr. Kabir Adamu Mohammed who represented the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the plants, Mr Jose Garcia Villegas allayed fears of flooding from the power plants saying, MESL was working with relevant agencies to tackle any occurrence during the peak of the rainy season.