World Bank’s Project in Kainji Power Plant Yields 340MW

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

An intervention work done by the World Bank under the Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystems Management Programme (WRDSEMP) in Kainji hydro power plant has resulted in a capacity upgrade of the plant by 340 megawatts, the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Transmission Company (TCN) has disclosed.

According to PMU’s Project Manager, Mr. Abubakar Gwadabe, the WRDSEMP retrofitted two generating units in Kainji, and rehabilitated an additional unit of the plant to recover 340MW of its generation capacity.
Gwadabe made this disclosure at a workshop organised by the PMU to identify and dimension stakeholders that are relevant to the success of its projects in Nigeria’s electricity industry.

He explained that the PMU, which was set up in 2000 to manage World Bank-financed power projects in Nigeria, has so far successfully implemented the Nigerian Transmission Development Project (NTDP), the National Energy Development Project (NEDP), and WRDSEMP.

Under the WRDSEMP, Gwadabe said: “The PMU successfully carried out the retrofitting of two generating units and rehabilitation of one generating unit at Kainji Power Plant (with total grid impact of 340MW) and also the rehabilitation of the Jebba spillway discharge channel at Jebba dam.”
“Under the same project, we conducted a study on the prevalence of water-borne diseases around the Kainji and Jebba dam areas. The PMU also carried out capacity building and training for sector institutions and regulatory agencies such as ministry of environment, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).”

He noted that: “Under the NTDP and NEDP, we successfully implemented power projects ranging from transmission substation rehabilitation and reinforcement, transmission line rehabilitation, supply and installation of distribution equipment, conversion of low voltage to high voltage distribution systems (Mambolo – Zone 2 Abuja, Ogba – Lagos), establishment of pilot billing systems for selected business units, massive rehabilitation of distribution networks in selected locations like Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, supply and installation of prepaid meters in Abuja (Karu and Kubwa).”

According to him, the NEGIP which is expected to improve transmission infrastructure and gas supplies to gas power plants in the country would soon commence and as such, consultations on its smooth implementation were necessary.

“In 2010 the federal government flagged off another power project aimed at improving transmission infrastructure around the country and providing Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) for the supply of gas to selected government-owned power plants by International Oil Companies (IOCs). This project is NEGIP, we are gathered here today to deliberate on how to sustainably implement NEGIP in a peaceful atmosphere.

“Several projects which could ordinarily have been successful, fail because the project implementers ignored some key stakeholders who directly or indirectly promote or hinder the smooth implementation of the project. Experience shows that people are becoming more and more aware of their rights and are beginning to have a say in what happens in their communities.
“It is in acknowledgement of this fact that NEGIP seeks to consult with all stakeholders in the field to design an enduring structure for engaging at various levels and establishing a means for redressing grievances that may arise from the implementation of NEGIP sub-projects,” Gwadabe explained.