World Bank approves $82m for Kainji dam

 Kainji  —  The Chief Executive Officer of Kainji Hydro Electricity Plc,  Mr Reuben Akinwumi,  said, weekend, the World Bank has approved $82 million loan for the rehabilitation of  the Kainji  Dam.

Akinwumi who announced this when  the Minister of  Power, Prof.  Barth Nnaji, visited the dam on  an inspection tour said the loan deal was  signed between the World Bank and Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, on June 27.

He said the country was a beneficiary because of  its membership of  the Niger Basin Authority, NBA.

Akinwumi said the first set of generating units at the dam was installed between 1968 and 1969 with a capacity of 320 mega watts while the second set was installed between 1976 and 1978 with a capacity of  440 mega watts.

He, however, lamented that only three of the present eight generating units were serviceable with each of them generating 80 mega watts instead  of 100.
Akinwumi further urged government to assist the dam authorities in funding and flood control support.

Nnaji in his response said government would continue to fund the dam until it had been concessioned.

To ensure that the target  of 5,000 mega watts  of electricity  was met before December, the minister said  the Federal Government would continue to rehabilitate all the dams in the country.