Indian firm gets $139m power deal

Apr 10, 2008

THE Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL) has signed a $138.9m (about sh236.1b) contract with an Indian firm, Jyoti Structures Africa, to construct the Bujagali interconnection project.

By Ibrahim Kasita

THE Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL) has signed a $138.9m (about sh236.1b) contract with an Indian firm, Jyoti Structures Africa, to construct the Bujagali interconnection project.

The project will evacuate power from the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power plant to the national grid.

Eriasi Kiyemba, the UETCL chief executive officer, and Pradip Das, the Jyoti vice-president for marketing and business development, signed the deal on Wednesday in Kamapala.

Kiyemba said the project includes 97km of new power transmission lines and a sub-station at Kawanda.

“Much of the proposed route between Bujagali and Kawanda will be located directly adjacent to the existing power transmission line connecting the Nalubaale (Owen Falls) and Kampala North sub-stations,” he said.

“The planned route passes through the districts of Wakiso, Mukono, Mpigi, and Kampala. The project encompasses the erecting of 220KV and 132KV transmission lines.”

He said the project is funded by the African Development Bank and the Japanese International Bank.

“The facility is directly linked to the hydro-power plant. Construction is going to be scrutinised by the financiers,” Kiyemba said.

“We cannot afford any slight default, which will stop disbursement of the funds. Ugandans are consuming expensive power. We want quick construction to relieve this burden.”

Pradip said: “I assure Ugandans we will deliver the best quality work on time as stipulated in the agreement.”

He said Jyoti would partner with Italian firm, Siemens, to manufacture and supply equipment for the project.

Ivo Bacchini, the Siemens’ high voltage sub-stations export project manager, said: “We guarantee quality equipment.”
According to the agreement, construction is supposed to start soon.

The project is expected to be executed in 24 months. Already, construction of the Bujagali hydro-power plant is two months ahead of schedule. Initial power production is expected in the last quarter of 2010.

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