Bbumba Opens New Power Unit At Jinja

By Yunusu Abbeyand Abubaker MukoseANOTHER power generating unit to produce 40 mega watts was yesterday commissioned at Kiira hydro-power station in Jinja. This increased electricity generation in the country to 300 mega watts.The energy and mineral development minister, Syda Bbumba (left), said the new unit would temporarily reduce load- shedding in the country.Donor agencies in Sweden and Norway were the main financiers for the unit which cost US$27.Work started on April 15, 2000 and was ready by May 21, 2002.“Unit 13 which is also 40 mega watts, will reduce load-shedding for a short time because electricity demand has been growing by between 3% to 4% per year,” Bbumba said.“Government plans to produce another 80 megawatts within the next two years to raise the capacity to internationally acceptable standards,” she said. Dr. Tikodri Togboa, the chairman Uganda Electricity Distribution Company, said three out of five units were operating at Kiira Dam.Ends