By Ibrahim Kasita

THE Environmental Impact Statement for the 250MW Bujagali power project has been finished, paving way for construction to start.

Completion of the project is expected to ease the current energy crisis.

The statement will lead to detailed economic, financial and environmental appraisal between the Government and the project lenders.

Bujagali Energy submitted the report to the National Environmental Management Authority for public input.

Bujagali Energy is a joint venture between US-based Sithe Global LLC and Industrial Promotion Services of Kenya, who proposed a high budget for the project due to high oil and metal prices.

The authority said in a notice: “The public is notified that we have received an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Bujagali hydro-electricity project. It is available for public scrutiny.”

“Some of the proposed developments were found likely to impact on communities and the environment,” it said.

The authority stated that the outcome of the public review would contribute to making of a final decision to approve or deal with mitigation measures proposed in the statement.

“At this stage if everybody is satisfied with the assessments, a certificate will be issued to the contractors, which will lead to finance approval,” Eriasi Kiyemba, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company’s chief, elaborated.