Rural Power Project Planned

ENERGY and mineral development minister Syda Bbumba has said the Government will soon launch a rural electrification programme, report Yunusu Abbey and Abubaker Mukose.Bbumba said the Government had instituted a rural electrification plan and strategy for the year 2001 to 2010 to extend electricity transmission nationwide.Speaking at the commissioning of the power generating Unit 13 at Kiira Dam in Jinja, on Thursday, Bbumba said the Government had earmarked US$375m for the rural electrification programme. “But the amount would be increased to US$500m depending on demand,” she said.“The Government would offer subsidies to the private sector who would join the rural electrification programme after approval by the Electricity Regulatory Authority,” Bbumba said.She cited other small power projects under the rural electrification programme such as the Nyagak mini- hydro-electric plant in Nebbi, the Ishasha and Sipi river power plants.“The Electricity Regulatory Authority is in the final stages of identifying a contractor for the Nyagak project.Dr. Tikodri Togboa, the Uganda Electricity Generation Company board chairman, said the Kiira dam project started in 1994 with civil works, which involved construction of a canal, a bridge and the powerhouse. He said Italian companies, Impregilo-Salini Joint Venture, did the civil works while Kvaerner Energy and ABB did the mechanical and electrical installation works.“This commissioning of Unit 13 brings to an end the Uganda Third Power project which has added a further 120 Mega Watts to the Uganda Grid System,”Togboa said.Ends