The capacity of Jebba Power Plant recently taken over by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited at the weekend moved from 380 megawatts to 450 megawatts.

The Hydro Electric Company formerly of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is currently running five units out if its installed capacity of six units. Another unit was added last week shooting up the capacity from 380 to 450 megawatts.

The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream, the new owners of Kainji Hydro Electric Company, Jebba Power Plant, Engr. Lamu Audu, disclosed this at the weekend during the commissioning of welfare projects to host communities.

The projects estimated to about N35 million included three transformers, 10 motorized boreholes, provision of relief materials to flood ravaged community of Kalema, donation of public toilets at Jebba North and South in Niger and Kwara states, among others.

Audu explained that the feat of 450 megawatts was made possible through commitment of staff, saying that as the company transits from government monopoly to private management, its focus would be to sustain the current capacity and meet the five-year target of 1,500 megawatts as contained in the terms of concession for Jebba and Kainji hydro companies.

"We have 450 in Jebba. Kainji right now is about 110 and very soon we are expecting another 80 megawatts, that will make it 190 and as we move on, more machines will come", he said.

Audu added, "I said it that Jebba is the most reliable power plant on the grid and we want to keep with that legacy and before yesterday (Friday), we have been running four units out of six and with God on our side, we brought in the fifth unit, moving from 380 megawatts to 450 megawatts today.

"You know power plant management is capital intensive and this plant that you have seen, it has been running for 30 years without statutory overhaul. So our focus is on sustenance of what is already available pending the intervention now that we have transitted from government monopoly to private management. I am very sure that the investors will do all that they can to bring in enough capital..."

Chairman of the company, Col. Sani Bello (rtd) urged the host communities to sustain the existing peace, saying peace is sine qua non to power generation and assured that the company would do more in providing social services for them as it has been doing over the years.

He maintained that the company would work very hard to generate maximally and keep with the terms of concession to generate 1,500 megawatts in the next five years.

"Our focus first and foremost is to make sure that we generate maximally. Our objective is to be able to meet the target of 1,500 megawatts in the plants as agreed on term of our concession for five years. So we are going to work very hard towards that to provide power for the Nigerian community. That is what we are here for and that is what we are going to do. In the process obviously we make money and out of that money, the communities, as stakeholders in the business would also benefit."