By Olamilekan FAWAS
Mainstream Energy Services Limited (MESL) has increased the generation capacity from its power asset from 542 megawatts (Mw) to 922Mw with plan to increase it to 1,300Mw.
The company was incorporated and licensed as a power generating company in 2011. MESL acquired Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants with a total installed capacity of 1338.4Mw through a concession agreement in November 2013.
The two hydro power 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, respectively.
Mainstream Energy in a communiqué issued at the end of the August monthly ministerial meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing with operators of the power sector, held at Minna, Niger State, stated it has since taking over the assets in 2013, has increased generation capacity from 542Mw to 922Mw and expects to increase to 1,300Mw.
The company hosted the August ministerial meeting, and further said it is committed to funding the Mainstream Foundation as its corporate social responsibility initiative.
Mainstream also confirmed that five industrial customers are now benefitting from the Eligible Customer regulation and taking their power directly from its facilities and paying their invoices for gas and transmission 100 per cent, which is good for the industry.
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 as a way to attract investment to support the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to meter customers was discussed at the meeting. The discussion on MAP issue was imperative because it was noted that the current pressing challenges of the industry are on distribution infrastructure expansion and supply of meter, though challenges on generation and transmission remain.
The minister directed the electricity generating companies (GenCos) to assist in harmonizing invoices of gas suppliers to resolve payment issues in the value chain. It was noted that recovery of payments by GenCos have increased from 20 per cent to 80 per cent; and power supply capacity has improved from 4,000Mw to 7,000Mw since the implementation of the ₦701billion Payment Assurance Facility (PAF) began in 2017.
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.
The stakeholders accepted the report of Benin DisCo and the Ministry for ongoing efforts to resolve service problem in Ondo State. 36 Communities previously without supply have been reconnected. 19 communities remain unconnected due to infrastructure that must be replaced at a cost ₦390million, and outstanding debts of N280million.
