Govt commissions power transmission project in Northern Uganda
NWOYA – The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa has commissioned the Olwiyo substation and the 400KV Karuma-Olwiyo and 132KV Karuma-Lira transmission lines to boost power supply in the Greater North and West Nile regions.
Commissioning the power project on Thursday in Nwoya district, Nankabirwa said government is committed to supplying reliable power to the two regions of the country that have the potential to become industrial hubs, given the abundant natural resources they possess.
“Govt recognises and is committed to supplying adequate and reliable power to Greater North and West Nile in order to support industrialisation of these regions and therefore enhance their economic, empowerment. West Nile region in particular, that is not connected to the national grid continue to face unreliable power supply,” she said.
The minister said the long-term solution to address unreliable power supply in West Nile region and Greater Northern Uganda will be achieved through the 132KV Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua transmission line that is being constructed under the World Bank-financed Grid Expansion and Reinforcement Project. She said the line will have the capacity to supply 200 megawatts [MW].
Government, the minister said, among others licensed power company Electromaxx to install 8MW thermal generators as a short-term solution to the increasing power demand in West Nile but the company has failed to provide reliable power due to challenges in securing the required fuel stocks to operate the plant.
The commissioned power evacuation lines are part of the Karuma interconnection project which aims to meet Uganda`s power needs, adding that government will soon connect West Nile region to the national power grid.
The construction of Karuma Hydropower plant kicked off 10 years ago and it is one of Uganda`s flagship project financed by the Export Import Bank of China.
The plant, according to government, is critical in addressing the country`s increasing electricity demand arising from urbanisation and industrial development.
According to development economists, inadequate power supply is one of the key bottlenecks to fast-tracking Uganda`s economic development.
According to government , Karuma Hydropower project will generate electricity in a phased manner, starting with the already completed turbines until the final turbine comes online, leading to an installed capacity of 600MW.
https://thecooperator.news/govt-seeks-approval-of-us-638-mln-to-power-households/
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