Karuma Dam to Boost Uganda’s Power Generation Capacity to 2000MW

Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station will boost Uganda’s electricity generation capacity to 2,000 Megawatts (MW) upon completion, the Energy Minister Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa has revealed.

Ms Nankabirwa was speaking at the launch of the Consumer Protection and Installation Permits Centre by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) where she revealed that Uganda is moving a stable electricity journey.

“We are moving a stable journey which we have moved since 1954 to date; when we are talking about more than 1,360 megawatts as installed capacity. And we are expecting to go to 2,000 megawatts. If the 600 megawatts (Karuma) comes on board, we are quickly going to 2,000 megawatts,” she said.

The 600-megawatt hydroelectric power project which is still under construction will also become the country’s largest power-generating installation upon its launch. Currently, Uganda has an installed capacity of 1,360 megawatts, contributed by Bujagali power station generating at 250 megawatts, Kiira at 200 megawatts, Isimba at 183 megawatts among others.

The minister also congratulated ERA for shaping Uganda’s electricity journey over the years which has seen the energy sector get boosted with several power plants across the country.

“You should not forget the journey of Uganda’s electricity supply since 1954 when we had our first Owen Falls Dam generating power. We are now in the celebration mood because we are talking about more than one plant. We even have those in the making. We have 840-megawatt Ayago hydropower plant, 400 megawatts Kiba hydropower plant; we are talking about commissioning 600-megawatt Karuma. I want to see at least three units commissioned this year,” she said.

Kiba and Ayago are proposed Hydroelectric Power Stations to be constructed in Nwoya District of which when completed Ayago will be the largest power station in Uganda, based on generation capacity.

“As regulators, we are giving you (ERA) more work. As we generate, evacuate, transmit, we are giving you more work. All this power we are talking about is clean, renewable; hydro, solar. Only 50 megawatts of thermal. I have started speaking with some people to make sure that the thermal plant is converted into gas plant. We are on the move to make sure people are powered,” said Nankabirwa.

However, the 600 megawatt Karuma power plant has suffered a number of setbacks. The dam was initially set to be commissioned in December 2019 but missed the target. This prompted for an extension of 12 months that the contractor again failed to meet in December last year when Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) raised concerns related to quality and more other defects.

Government has yet again pushed completion of the 600MW dam by 12 months to June 2023 following non-conformities of the electrical-mechanical systems, which remain contentious between the Chinese contractor, Sinohydro Corporation and Government.

In July this year, Sinohydro’s Karuma project manager, Mr Hou Fuqiang, said the non-conformities that the contractor accepts responsibility and that it will be completed by June 2023.

The project failed the first expected commissioning of 2019 because at the time, a number of defects had been identified, which, if not addressed, could adversely affect the safety, reliability and durability of the plant.

The project schedule that informed the revised completion dates had been prepared in December 2019, but when COVID-19 struck, it adversely affected progress due to national and international restrictions.

The disruptions to movement resulting from COVID-19 caused delays as the contractor paused the installation of any equipment because some of them were not in supply.

In March, the contractor instituted changes in the project’s management team, which has significantly improved project performance, particularly in pending rectification works.

Still pending are rectification works to address the non-conformances identified in the electro and hydro-mechanical installations, such as generator cleaning, corrosion protection of mechanical equipment and fibre optic cable installation, among others.

Meanwhile, on July 27, 2022, Minister Nankabirwa officiated the commissioning ceremony of the newly constructed school facilities at Purongo Primary School, Nwoya District constructed under the Karuma (600MW) Hydropower Project Community Development Action Program (CDAP) Phase I.

The 1 billion shillings project included the construction of 2 classroom blocks with the head teacher’s office, 4 staff houses and 4 stance VIP latrines at Purongo Primary School.

During construction, the project was closely supervised by UEGCL in collaboration with the local district officials Nwoya district.

In line with the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy geared towards promoting the use of locally manufactured goods and local skills/personnel, Beru Construction Company Ltd was the project contractor and completed the work within the stipulated time frame, within budget and to the agreed set standards.

The UEGCL Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Harrison Mutikanga said the facilities would improve the social livelihood of the project host communities, adding that Government was in the final preparations for the commissioning of the Karuma.