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Tag: Kainji

  • FG expands power generation in Kainji, commissions additional 300KWp power project

    FG expands power generation in Kainji, commissions additional 300KWp power project

    • Project, part of administration’s turnaround agenda for reliable, qualitative power , says Adelabu

    In furtherance of President Bola Tinubu‘s Renewed Hope Agenda to provide adequate , reliable and quality electricity to businesses and households in the country, the Federal Government on Thursday commissioned a 300KWp Solar PV pilot project in Kainji , Niger State. While commissioning the project, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu said the project will primarily increase power generation capacity, lower electricity costs while also fostering enhanced collaboration between the main concessionaire, Mainstream Energy Solution and its Chinese partner, HEDC in the renewable energy field.

    A statement by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister stated that the power project comes with 675KWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is an integral part of the extension of 1G3 and 1G4 under the rehabilitation of the 1G9 in Kainji HPP project. The Minister who said efforts were progressing in achieving President Tinubu’s turnaround agenda on supply of reliable and quality power said the Power Ministry’s objective is to meet power demand by ensuring improved distribution and transmission infrastructure to minimize technical and commercial losses, closing the metering gap and resolving the liquidity, power theft and vandalism challenges.

    Read Also: ‘Kainji/Jebba Hydroelectric calls for cost-reflective tariff’

    The Minister also said the destruction of some power towers around the country has been reported to the National Security Adviser (NSA) in order to strengthen security around the power infrastructure.

    “It is of no use to expend so much energy in providing power facilities if the delivery channel is weak, that is why the ministry is concentrating on improvement of the transmission and distribution capacity.”

    On power theft and destruction of power infrastructure,

    Adelabu again emphasized the need for Nigerians and the different Communities where the facilities are located to protect them.

    “What is the essence of government and private companies expending resources on these power facilities while some elements within the society will deliberately move to destroy the facilities which are national

  • ‘Kainji/Jebba Hydroelectric calls for cost-reflective tariff’

    ‘Kainji/Jebba Hydroelectric calls for cost-reflective tariff’

    Chairman of The Board of Directors of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) Col Sani Bello (Rtd) has sought a cost reflective tariff in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    The company took over and operates the Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants 10 years ago.

    In his goodwill message at the NESI Participant and Stakeholders Roundtable 2023, Bello noted that the bane of the industry is lack of cost reflective tariff that should have afforded the industry liquidity.

    He also said there is need to criminalise energy theft to deter perpetrators.

    The chairman also noted that non-payment of electricity bills was affecting the industry.

    He urged government agencies to endeavour to pay their bills.

    His words: “The major challenges we continue to tackle with today is the lack of cost reflective tariff that will provide sustainable liquidity for the entire value chain.

     “Strengthened laws and enforcement of these laws that will criminalize and deter energy theft as well as non-payment of electricity bills.

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    ” We also implore that all arms of government and government agencies also pay all their invoices to the NESI.”

    Besides, the chairman said  multiple taxation, levies on the value chain have hindered the — growth of the industry and prevented the inflow of investments to the sector.

    Bello said the  ever-present liquidity challenge exacerbated by inflation and a dearth of foreign currency continues to affect industry operations.

    He said: “While we acknowledge the effort of the current administration in trying to resolve and improve the foreign exchange environment, we look forward to a way out that will midwife an enabling environment for existing and prospective investors to thrive within the NESI.”

    Bello noted that it  has been a decade of challenges and achievements for this sector since 2013, when Nigeria decided on a private sector partnership to participate in the development of the power sector and in an effort to bring in critical Capital to finance and rehabilitate the Power infrastructures.

    He noted that after  a decade of the privatisation of the NESI, the Industry has evolved and has made positive strides and impact on the Nigerian economic landscape through investments in capacity recovery and capacity expansion thereby increasing the installed Industry Generation capacity.

    According to him, a classic example in the

    Hydro Power space was when Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) took over the Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants with Kainji not in production and Jebba at 460Mega Watts.

    He added that “we have rehabilitated both plants and currently having an available combined capacity of 1002Megawatts at both plants.

    “A fellow Hydro company North South Power (NSP) has also achieved great strides in the rehabilitation of its plant.

    “Hydropower currently accounts for about 30% of the power to the national grid.”

    The chairman said despite these achievements in the sector, energy transmission and distribution still poses a severe challenge to a functional NESI due to the state of the infrastructure and requires significant capital to finance its rehabilitation and expansion.

    He noted that the total generation installed capacity of about 13,000 Mega Watts is more than the Transmission capacity of 8,000 Mega Watts with the distribution sub-sector taking up less than 5,000 Mega Watts.

     This, according to him, indicates the need for increased/enhanced investments in these sub-sectors of NESI to further boost energy supply to end users.

    He said it will serve as the leading example to the populace to sustain and support the sector.

    “As we celebrate this milestone of ten (10) years all stake holders are invited to remain resilient in their commitment to Nigeria’s industrialization Agenda to aid economic growth through the development of a vibrant power sector,” he said.

  • Mainstream Energy eyes 1,300Mw of power from Kainji, Jebba

    Mainstream Energy Services Limited (MESL) has increased its generation from 542 megawatts (Mw) to 922Mw and plans to increase it to 1,300Mw.

    MESL was licensed as a power generating firm in 2011. It acquired Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants through a concession agreement in November 2013.

    The two plants are 100km apart with Kainji dam situated on the upstream of Jebba. The two hydro power plants have installed capacities of 760Mw and 578.4Mw.

    In a communiqué at the end of the August ministerial meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing with operators of the power sector, held in Minna, Niger State, Mainstream Energy stated that it is committed to funding the Mainstream Foundation as its corporate social responsibility initiative.

    Mainstream also confirmed that five industrial customers were  benefitting from the Eligible Customer regulation as they are taking their power from its facilities and paying.

    Also, the meeting was told there were desires by industrial customers seeking to benefit from the policy of Eligible Customers.

    Also, the progress being on the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme was discussed and noted that it would attract investment to support the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to meter customers.

    Observers said the challenges of the industry were on distribution infrastructure expansion and supply of meter, though challenges on generation and transmission remain.

    Fashola directed the electricity generating companies (GenCos) to assist in harmonising invoices of gas suppliers to resolve payment issues in the value chain.

    It was noted that recovery of payments by GenCos had increased from 20 to 80 per cent; and that power supply capacity has improved from 4,000Mw to 7,000Mw since the implementation of the N701billion Payment Assurance Facility (PAF) began last year.

    The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) was commended for completing some projects, including the 2x15MVA, 33/11kV Injection substation at Okene; 2×7.5MVA, 33/11kV substation at Kabba;  2x15MVA, 33/11KV at Confluence Beach; and 1×7.5MVA, 33/11KV at Felele all in Kogi State.

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also acknowledged receipt of directive by the Federal Government to work out and implement Competition Transition Charges as provided by Law, to allay DisCos’ fears of loss of revenue from various policies of Government; encouraged State Governments to work with the DisCos to improve power supply in their respective states, among others.

  • Court convicts 205 Boko Haram members

    Court convicts 205 Boko Haram members

    The special sitting of the Federal High Court in Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State has ended with the conviction of 205 Boko Haram members, who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
    One of the convicts, identified as Alhaji Bukar Jindi got the longest term of imprisonment.
    A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Justice yesterday revealed that 19-year old Jindi got a totla of 66 years upon being convicted on a two count charge.
    Media Aide to the Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, Salihu Isah said, in the statement, that Jindi got 16 years on the first count and  and 50 years on the other.
    Jindi, Isah added, was convicted for admitting to be a member of Boko Haram and  carrying out several attacks leading to loss of lives and properties.
    “The unremorseful and unrepentant convict vowed to go back to crime if he is released.
    “He was arrested in 2015 at the age of 17 years. He will have to spend 50 years in prison with effect from the date of his arrest.”
    Isah said only one of those tried, Modu Maina, a native of Bama LG, Borno State was  discharged and acquitted.
    He was arrested in Ketu, Lagos State where he worked as a gateman.
    “Maina confessed that he was forcefully initiated into the Boko Haram group but relocated to Lagos to avoid being arrested in Bama.
    “He said that all the confessional statements he made to Joint Task Force (JTF) was under alleged torture.
    “The presiding judge, having reviewed the defendant’s written confessional statements, found him not guilty,” Isah said.
    He added that a total of 526 Boko Haram “suspects were discharged for want of evidence, under aged and persons suffering from mental illness.”
    Isah said most of the 205 that were convicted were found guilty of admitting “to belonging to the terrorist group; concealing information about the group which they knew or believe to be of material assistance that could lead to the arrest, prosecution or conviction of Boko Haram members.
    “Their jail term ranges from 3 to 60 years.
    “Most of the convicts said the fear of being killed prevented them from reporting to the JTF (Joint Task Force) or any security agencies coupled with the fact that most villages had been ravaged by the Boko Haram including the security posts.
    “They insisted that it was difficult and a dangerous venture for them to travel a long distance to make a report.”
    The Federal High Court had to move its sitting to the Wawa cantonment, which served as a detention facility for Boko Haram suspects, to ensure prompt disposal of the cases.
    According to Isah, the court, during its latest sitting, which ended last Friday tried 301 cases, convicted 205, discharged and acquitted 1 and adjourned 73  for continuation of hearing.
    The cases involving the freed 526 were not tried because the prosecution could not charge them for lack of sufficient evidence, among other reasons.
  • AfDB approves $100m  for  Kainji, Jebba hydro power projects

    AfDB approves $100m  for  Kainji, Jebba hydro power projects

    The  African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a financing package of $100 million, comprising $80 million loan and $ 20 million equity for the rehabilitation of the Kainji and Jebba hydro plants to increase available capacity from the current available capacity of 917 MW to installed capacity of 1,338.4 MW. The Kainji and Jebba plants are one of Nigeria’s cheapest and steadiest suppliers of electricity.

    A statement from the bank said the financing is rooted in the New Deal on Energy for Africa which is founded on the bank’s high 5 strategy on lighting up and powering Africa. It is also aligned with Nigeria’s national strategic priorities and Vision 2020 on improved access to electricity and diversification of energy sources.

    The AfDB, through this inaugural private sector power transaction, the statement said, aims to play a role in not only increasing generation capacity, but also, and more importantly, contributing to the addition of green power to the grid in a country traditionally dependent on thermal power. It is noted that, with the support of the bank and other development finance institutions, the Federal Government’s ongoing broad power sector reforms are expected to enhance successful private sector participation in the sector.

    The project is expected to deliver strong development outcomes in the country, including but not limited to increased generation capacity and diversification of energy resources; governance and fiscal effects from substantial government revenues; positive environmental effects through power generation from a renewable resource; and private sector development arising from improved business environment, local linkages and knowledge transfer.

    By relaxing energy infrastructure constraints in a high-deficit country, the project has the potential to contribute to the bank’s inclusive growth objective. The contribution to green growth is potentially high, as increased use of a renewable energy resource like hydro power will lower the carbon emission intensity for the power generation system.

  • NBA reaffirms commitment to rehabilitation of Kainji, Jebba dams

    NBA reaffirms commitment to rehabilitation of Kainji, Jebba dams

    The Niger Basin Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to complete the rehabilitation of Kainji and Jebba Dam as it would improve electricity supply in the country.

    The dams, when completed, will also boost economic activities among member country in the Basin. The Executive Secretary NBA, Collins Ihekire said this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the Technical Committee of Experts Meeting preparatory to the Extraordinary Council of Ministers.

    He said the rehabilitation of the project will foster economic development in selected Niger River Basin countries of Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

    Ihekire noted that the authority had embarked on investment programmes among them are the rehabilitation of Jebba, Kainji, Lagdo dams and the construction of three new dams in Suomi, Guinea and Niger Republic to generate wealth for member countries.

    In 2011, the Federal Government and World Bank signed a contract agreement on the rehabilitation of Jebba and Kainji Dams and the Power plant under the Niger Basin Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystem Management Programme .

    The Project is being coordinated by Niger Basin Authority (NBA) and facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources as the National Focal Structure and implemented by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Project Implementation Unit.

    He disclosed that the basin has already acquired a machine tool for the mechanical and electrical workshops and spare parts including priority valves and oil deflector for the Jebba hydropower stations which helps to ensure the generation of 758 Mega Watt of electricity.

    Ihekire also noted that the Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystems Management in the Niger Basin would improve the auxiliaries of the Kainji dam to ensure a supplementary production of 320 MW of electricity in Nigeria as from April 2015.