Bujagali dam work on course
Feb 06, 2007
THE energy ministry has refuted media reports that the 250 megawatts Bujagali hydropower project will be delayed by seven months.
By Ibrahim Kasita
THE energy ministry has refuted media reports that the 250 megawatts Bujagali hydropower project will be delayed by seven months.
Recent media reports claimed that the dam would be delayed due to an incomplete bidding process.
The reports alleged that financial disclosure was expected late in July after submission of the revised plan.
“There is no delay in the project. The reports are false, inaccurate and incorrect. Please disregard the reports,†said Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the energy ministry permanent secretary.
“We are moving faster to meet the implementation period. We are calling for more investors and the financial details are almost concluded.â€
Kabagambe explained that the delay in negotiations of different contracting firms involved in the project did not affect the entire construction schedule of the dam.
“We are not behind schedule. The project continues as planned. Construction begins in May.
“Those reports are wrong. There are no delays at all but we are just accelerating the project implementation,†Eriasi Kiyemba, the Uganda Electricity Company managing director, added.
“You cannot talk of delay yet everything has just been concluded. These reports are just malicious.â€
A final draft study on the Bujagali dam has been completed paving way for the unlocking of financial support for the project.
Power Planning Associate, the energy management consultants hired by the World Bank, presented the report to key stakeholders last month.
This is the fourth time the construction of the dam has been extended.
The project that was supposed have kicked off in February last year but was extended to July and later to December.
Officials said the failure to reach conclusive agreements forced the extension to this month.
This was further postponed to March but the Dr Ezra Suruma, the finance minister announced that the project would kick-off in May.
THE energy ministry has refuted media reports that the 250 megawatts Bujagali hydropower project will be delayed by seven months.
Recent media reports claimed that the dam would be delayed due to an incomplete bidding process.
The reports alleged that financial disclosure was expected late in July after submission of the revised plan.
“There is no delay in the project. The reports are false, inaccurate and incorrect. Please disregard the reports,†said Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the energy ministry permanent secretary.
“We are moving faster to meet the implementation period. We are calling for more investors and the financial details are almost concluded.â€
Kabagambe explained that the delay in negotiations of different contracting firms involved in the project did not affect the entire construction schedule of the dam.
“We are not behind schedule. The project continues as planned. Construction begins in May.
“Those reports are wrong. There are no delays at all but we are just accelerating the project implementation,†Eriasi Kiyemba, the Uganda Electricity Company managing director, added.
“You cannot talk of delay yet everything has just been concluded. These reports are just malicious.â€
A final draft study on the Bujagali dam has been completed paving way for the unlocking of financial support for the project.
Power Planning Associate, the energy management consultants hired by the World Bank, presented the report to key stakeholders last month.
This is the fourth time the construction of the dam has been extended.
The project that was supposed have kicked off in February last year but was extended to July and later to December.
Officials said the failure to reach conclusive agreements forced the extension to this month.
This was further postponed to March but the Dr Ezra Suruma, the finance minister announced that the project would kick-off in May.