West Nile region in dire need of electricity

ARUA-Due to the increasing demand for electricity in the West Nile region, more than 23,000 households and businesses are not being adequately served by the 3.5 megawatts [MW] Nyagak hydropower station.

According to the recent report issued by Wes Nile Rural Electrification Company [WENERICO] during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Nebbi town, the Nyagak hydropower station does not have the capacity to supply power to the increasing population.

There is concern that since Nyagak II mini hydropower station produces only 3.5MW of electricity, the idea of establishing big factories in the region by local investors is a myth given that at the moment, the peak demand for electricity in the region has gone to 6.9 MW.

Wilberforce Unegiu, the director of Unleakline Printing Investment Limited says, due to unreliable power in the region, many business points which use electricity have been closed which has rendered some people jobless.

Unegiu who operates his printing business in the heart of Nebbi town says, his printing machine is lying idle due to unreliable power.

“The current electricity power station supplying the region isn’t enough. That is why investors find it hard to invest in the region,” Unegiu said.

The public relations officer WENERICO, Judith Wango-ic says, due to the overwhelming number of power consumers in the region, in the last three years, power consumption has increased.

She adds that due to the limited capacity of Nyagak mini hydropower to supply the whole region, the three top power consumers in the region, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation [NWSC], Tobacco Company and Oyoma General Stores are challenged by the power supply during the dry season when the demand for power is high.

“She said the districts of Pakwach and Nebbi in July this year were hit by power outages.

Wango-ic says, in 2019, independent power producer, Electro-Maxx was subcontracted by the Electricity Regulatory Authority Agency [ERA] to fix the power supply gaps by generating power with two generators in the region to supplement the capacity of 8.2 MW but failed. She said the challenge of power supply in the region would be solved when Nyagak III is completed next year.

A welder in Nebbi town, Gasper Okumu says due to inadequate electricity in the region to support the cottage industries, it has remained behind others in terms of industrialisation.

The Resident district commissioner Nebbi Robert Abak says West Nile region needs more electricity to spur value-addition activities, adding that investors are frustrated by the current low and unstable electricity supply from Nyagak hydropower station.

“With the coming of industrial parks in the region, the region needs a reliable electricity supply to boost our economic status and employment,” Abak said.

https://thecooperator.news/mps-urge-govt-to-give-farmers-electricity-for-value-addition/

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