Load-shedding intensifies
Sep 29, 2011
LOAD shedding has significantly increased in most areas around the country.
By Samuel Sanya
LOAD shedding has significantly increased in most areas around the country.
This is due to a huge reduction in electricity generation at the Namanve-based Jacobsen thermal power plant, Umeme has said.
Samuel Zimbe, the acting Umeme boss, told New Vision that 24-hour load shedding had been resumed due to a 43MW reduction in power supply.
“We were informed by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company that Jacobsen had reduced electricity generation to 7MW from 50MW necessitating increased load-shedding,†he explained.
“The reduced production by Jacobsen caught us by surprise since we didn’t know the magnitude of their problems. The shortfalls in power production by Jacobsen have removed the gains made by increased generation at Eskom,†Zimbe added.
Dag Moen, the Jacobsen boss, said power generation had reduced because of low fuel supplies and unpaid government power subsidies.
“The Government promised to pay for the power arrears and subsidies, but we haven’t seen anything yet. Without that money, it’s hard to get heavy fuel to generate electricity,†Moen said.
Jacobsen wants the Government to pay sh316b owed to them and two other thermal power generators in electricity subsidies.
Moen added that production was due to increase today as the firm will receive about 400,000 litres of heavy fuel.
Zimbe said he was aware of the consignment, but would not say when the 24-hour load-shedding would be reduced. It has taken three days so far.
“There are on-going high level talks in the Government about the situation. However, I need to confirm whether the entire amount owed to Jacobsen has been liquidated,†he said.
LOAD shedding has significantly increased in most areas around the country.
This is due to a huge reduction in electricity generation at the Namanve-based Jacobsen thermal power plant, Umeme has said.
Samuel Zimbe, the acting Umeme boss, told New Vision that 24-hour load shedding had been resumed due to a 43MW reduction in power supply.
“We were informed by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company that Jacobsen had reduced electricity generation to 7MW from 50MW necessitating increased load-shedding,†he explained.
“The reduced production by Jacobsen caught us by surprise since we didn’t know the magnitude of their problems. The shortfalls in power production by Jacobsen have removed the gains made by increased generation at Eskom,†Zimbe added.
Dag Moen, the Jacobsen boss, said power generation had reduced because of low fuel supplies and unpaid government power subsidies.
“The Government promised to pay for the power arrears and subsidies, but we haven’t seen anything yet. Without that money, it’s hard to get heavy fuel to generate electricity,†Moen said.
Jacobsen wants the Government to pay sh316b owed to them and two other thermal power generators in electricity subsidies.
Moen added that production was due to increase today as the firm will receive about 400,000 litres of heavy fuel.
Zimbe said he was aware of the consignment, but would not say when the 24-hour load-shedding would be reduced. It has taken three days so far.
“There are on-going high level talks in the Government about the situation. However, I need to confirm whether the entire amount owed to Jacobsen has been liquidated,†he said.