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Shs52.6b project to establish nine mini hydropower dams
Mr Baguma (left) and Mr Ossberger GmbH, the Markus Sauer Neck project manager, sign for the implementation of the ORIO mini hydropower project. Photo / Courtesy
What you need to know:
- The ORIO mini hydropower project seeks to generate at least 6.7 megawatts
Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC) has signed a €13.1m (Shs52.6b) contract to implement the ORIO mini hydropower project, in which nine dams with a total generation capacity of 6.7 megawatts, will be constructed.
The project, funded by a grant from the government of the Netherlands - Invest International - will establish a local distribution network stretching 288 kilometers, connecting up to 71,081 households and 2,300 small and medium enterprises in Kasese, Bushenyi, Mitooma, Hoima, Kabarole, Bunyangabu, and Bundibugyo districts. Mr Roy Nyamutale Baguma, the UECCC managing director, said in a statement the collaboration between Uganda and the Netherlands “provides a reliable source of power for rural electrification to “mitigate challenges of wheeling power over a long distance”.
The project will be implemented by HNAC Technology from China, which will manage civil and hydro-mechanical works, while Ossberger GmbH from Germany will oversee the design, manufacture, supply, and installation of electromechanical components.
Mr Baguma indicated that the project will be implemented in a phased manner, with the first phase, which is expected to be completed in 24 months, taking off in Hoima, Nchwera in Rukungiri, Igassa, and Nsongya in Bunyangabu.
The project, co-financed by government of Uganda and ORIO Infrastructure Fund, reaffirms the commitment to enhance electricity access. Data indicates that only 40 percent of Ugandans access electricity.
Mr Joost van Ettro, the Netherlands acting ambassador to Uganda, said energy was an important aspect in development, applauding Uganda for its continued investment in both petroleum and renewable energy.
“This project presents another opportunity to bring energy to people,” he said, reiterating Netherlands’ commitment to improve Uganda’s electricity access.
The civil works and hydro-mechanical contract with HNAC Technology, according to Mr Baguma, is expected to be signed early next month, after which the project will be launched in Mitooma District.
Dr Mass Daniel Ossberger, Ossberger GmbH chief executive officer, said that where the project will be a business on one side, it will “empower rural areas and bring electricity to people who have limited access”.
