A subsidiary of Russia’s largest electricity generating company RusHydro is set to put out tenders for the rehabilitation of Kainji and Jebba hydropower stations. RusHydro is an investor in the two companies.

The company confirmed that its finance partner Nigeria’s Mainstream Energy Solutions has agreed to its plan to rehabilitate Kainji and Jebba power plants, with a total installed capacity of 1.3 GW.

The next step for RusHydro International AG, the company confirmed in a statement, will be to assist Mainstream Energy Solutions to prepare tender documentation and commence tender procedures for the supply of equipment, construction, and assembly work.

RusHydro International is also responsible for the installation and construction works and consulting on operation and maintenance of the plants in partnership with Institute Hydroproject (RusHydro Group), Pöyry and Mott MacDonald.

In 2013, RusHydro and Mainstream Energy signed a five-year cooperation agreement to modernise the Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants in Nigeria at a cost of N72.32 billion (US$452 million).

The concession conditions, Mainstream Energy  provide for rehabilitation and modernisation of the power plants and bringing their capacity back to the design level.

The two plants are located on the River Niger and have installed capacity of 750 MW and 578 MW, respectively. Currently available capacity of the plants is substantially below their installed capacity.

In August 2013, Guaranty Trust Bank and multilateral financial institution Africa Finance Corporation provided a US$170 million (N27.2 billion) facility to Mainstream Energy Solutions for the acquisition of Kainji Power station, one of the former assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.