MPs demand answers as water weed chokes Karuma Dam turbines
The issue was brought to light during a field inspection by the Parliamentary Energy Committee at the beginning of this week, chaired by Dan Kimosho, where engineers admitted that the weed is choking the cooling systems of the turbines.
Parliamentary Committee on Energy, led by Dan Kimosho, visits Karuma Dam in Kiryandongo District. (Photo by Yosam Gucwaki).
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The 600MW Karuma Hydropower Dam, a crucial component of Uganda's energy infrastructure, is facing a severe challenge from water weed, leading to significant power production shortfalls and substantial revenue losses for the Government.
The issue was brought to light during a field inspection by the Parliamentary Energy Committee at the beginning of this week, chaired by Dan Kimosho, where engineers admitted that the weed is choking the cooling systems of the turbines.
Eng. Badiru Kiggundu, who chaired a project steering committee to oversee the successful completion of Karuma Dam, highlighted the growing disparity between power supply and demand, stating, "We have 1093 MW on the grid, but the demand is now more than 2000 MW. Demand is higher than supply because of schools, industries, and industrial parks, which all need a substation."
He added that the Government is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to find a lasting solution to the water weed invasion.
"Whenever there is water weed, there is turbine failure. Water weed gets into the cooling water system in the turbine, which has caused rampant shutdowns," he said.
He assured the committee that repairs are conducted as needed to restore the situation.
Moses Lukanga, the shadow minister for environment and natural resources and MP for Njeru Municipality, criticised the Government for compelling Ugandans to pay for underutilised power.
He demanded transparency regarding the 25-year classified contracts and urged that the contractor's alleged shoddy work be exposed.
They included whether a water weed management system was included in the original Karuma Dam design, the total revenue lost by the Government in the last three years due to turbine failures caused by water weed, and the plan to build substations for industrial parks currently experiencing power shortages.
The visit also saw appeals from Kiryandongo district woman MP Jovia Katusiime Mbabazi, who urged energy state minister Opolot Okaasi to ensure that communities surrounding the project, such as Kimogoro, Kawit and Kisenyi in Mutunda subcounty, directly benefit from the generated electricity, especially since the Kiryandongo sugar factory is already connected.
In response, Okaasi assured that the ministry would provide transformers to these communities.
Linos Ngompek called on Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and Karuma hydropower project management to prioritise electrifying the host communities of Karuma and Bweyale.
He also pressed the Ministry of Energy to ensure full and timely compensation for all 119 individuals affected by the power project and transmission line.