Why has Water Directorate kept mum?
Jul 19, 2007
EDITOR—on July 16 you published an article entitled “Water directorate to blame for loadsheddingâ€. You reported that the managing director of Eskom, Mrs Nokwanda Mngeni, blamed the directorate. She said that when Eskom took over operations of both Nalubale and Kiira dams in April 2003, power g
EDITOR—on July 16 you published an article entitled “Water directorate to blame for loadsheddingâ€. You reported that the managing director of Eskom, Mrs Nokwanda Mngeni, blamed the directorate. She said that when Eskom took over operations of both Nalubale and Kiira dams in April 2003, power generation was at 265 MW per hour.
In Feburary 2006, the directorate directed Eskom to use 850 cubic metres of water per second, reducing power generation to 135MW per hour. She added that the directives were revised in August to 750 cubic metres per second translating to an average of 120MW per hour.
As a result, she concluded, the public expects loadshedding to reduce with an increase in water levels which is not the case! This is very disturbing if it is true.
Why has the Directorate of Water Development not refuted this? Government has spent a lot of money on thermal electricity to help reduce loadshedding. This money could be spent on health, education or roads.
The prices of commodities have increased as a result of high costs of production. On July 13 it was reported that 18 manufacturers are soon to stop production due to persistent increase in the cost
Joseph M. Etole
Kampala
In Feburary 2006, the directorate directed Eskom to use 850 cubic metres of water per second, reducing power generation to 135MW per hour. She added that the directives were revised in August to 750 cubic metres per second translating to an average of 120MW per hour.
As a result, she concluded, the public expects loadshedding to reduce with an increase in water levels which is not the case! This is very disturbing if it is true.
Why has the Directorate of Water Development not refuted this? Government has spent a lot of money on thermal electricity to help reduce loadshedding. This money could be spent on health, education or roads.
The prices of commodities have increased as a result of high costs of production. On July 13 it was reported that 18 manufacturers are soon to stop production due to persistent increase in the cost
Joseph M. Etole
Kampala