IT appears that Nigerians blaming the current epileptic power supply on low output from the Nigeria's foremost Hydro Electric Power station, Kainji, Niger State should now have a re-think, as all the hydro-power stations merely contribute 30 percent of the country's total electricity generation.Investigation also shows that, even if the Kainji station were shut down permanently, it would not lead to any form of collapse in electricity supply.Again, those, who think that whenever there is power outage it means that those in the power stations have switched off their generators, are advised to take some lectures on the 'modus operandi' of hydro power stationsas operators would never shut down generators, unless they are completely broken down.In the same vein, the switchyard that houses the high-tension cables, accommodates the transmission channel of the dam's power outlet. Therefore, the current from the power station is sent to the National Grid, which is not under the control of the hydro power stations.These, and many others formed the kernel of the findings, following an enquiry into the situation of things at the Kainji Dam as it relates to the erratic power supply in Nigeria.Sources at the Kainji made frantic efforts to show that the authorities of the power station do not have any input into the distribution of the current that emanates from there.'The regulatory bodies on power are the ones vested with the power of rationing among sub-stations in Nigeria.' These sub stations are Shiroro and Jebba dams.According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Kainji Dam, Mr. Yinka Akinwumi, Nigerians should understand that all the existing hydro electric dams in the country accounted for a mere 30 per cent of existing generated power capacity needs of the nation, as thermal stations took the larger chunk.Akinwumi sharply criticised some of the reports in some National dailies linking the recent less than four-day closure of the dam with ongoing erratic power supply in Nigeria. Besides, he denied any rumor of decrease in the volume of River Niger, which could have had adverse effect on the efficiency level of the dam. The 760 mega watt station was ordered shut down by the Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji on Friday, March 16, 2012.Sources said that the development stemmed from' excessive water leakage' in the dam. It was believed that the action was taken to prevent an imminent flooding of the power station. Consequently all the five units in the power station generating 330MW were shut down at dawn.Nnaji promptly ordered that the divers attached to the dam, predominantly, from Niger Delta region of the country be mobilised to trace the point of the leakage in the dam preparatory to mending it. It is believed that if the fault is not urgently rectified, it could affect the operations of four units of the Jebba Hydro station with a current capacity of 335 MW.But three days later, the Minister released the cheery news to the effect that the leakage has been fixed.Besides, he said the dam had started work and had commenced prompt distribution of power to the National Grid from the four available units initially shut down.But Akinwumi said: 'How I wish that we are sure of our facts most of the time there is problem in the power sector in Nigeria. Many Nigerians till date believed that kainji Hydro power Plant is the only source of power generation in this country. Certainly not! Therefore, all the blames on all the power failure in Nigeria should not be heaped on the dam and its operators.'Akinwumi, who cited civil service rules, however, declined further answers to questions raised, as he believed that spokesman of the Ministry of Power in Abuja should ordinarily supply answers to other questions asked.He debunked claims of the dam being damaged due to alleged blockade by python. Rather, he said the dam could get to its fullest capacity of 760MW if the ongoing World Bank Assisted programme to rehabilitate the station worked.Workers at the Kainji power station were seen at their duty posts dutifully discharging their functions.The Kainji hydro-electric power station is regarded as one of the longest dams in the world. Work started on the construction of the dam in 1964 and ended in the next four years. The installed power generating capacity of the dam is put at 800MW.
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