80MW more for the grid

By Ronald Kalyango

Electromaxx, a private thermal power provider operating in Tororo district, is installing new $60m machinery to increase its electricity production from the 20 to 80megawatts (MW).

Christophe Pringault, the project engineer, told Kabagambe Kaliisa, the energy permanent secretary during his tour of the facility that the new electricity will come on board this month.

“We have installed the latest machinery on the market and I am optimistic that we shall be ready to wire electricity onto the national grid by August,” said Pringault. Kaliisa who was accompanied by technical people from the Rural Electrification Agency was optimistic that the development would enable the country have stable power supply especially during the dry season.

“Over the years, we have been chasing demand regarding power generation, but this is now history. We have put in place mechanisms to increase power generation for Ugandans,” said Kaliisa.

The new Tororo plant will generate power from heavy fuel diesel, crude oil and gas. Kaliisa observed that once completed, the plant will save the country from largely depending on hydro power, which he said is always affected by the dry season.

“When there is a decline in the water levels during the dry season, the thermal electricity will act as our backup,” said permanent secretary.

Early this year, Electromaxx was on the spot following revelations that it acquired its contract irregularly.

The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company announced that the construction of the sh227.82b Bujagali interconnection project has been completed.

The project aims at increasing access to less expensive and reliable electricity supply by providing adequate transmission capacity for evacuation of power from the Bujagali hydro power station to the national grid.

The transmission lines are evacuating the 250MW from the Bujagali plant generation units.

The units replaced the Aggreko 100MW thermal generation plant at Kiira and Mutundwe.

MPs on the adhoc committee probing the energy sector revealed that the plant only generates three megawatts, contrary to the agreement it signed with the Government.

Legislators also observedthat the Electricity Regulatory Authority did not send out bids for the contract, contrary to procurement laws.