Bujagali project on schedule
Sep 22, 2008
WORK on the 250-mega watts (MW) Bujagali hydro-power project in Jinja, is ahead of schedule, a top manager announced last week. The official said social and environmental impacts had been managed as construction progresses.
By Ibrahim Kasita
WORK on the 250-mega watts (MW) Bujagali hydro-power project in Jinja, is ahead of schedule, a top manager announced last week. The official said social and environmental impacts had been managed as construction progresses.
The more than $800m (about sh1.32 trillion ) plant is sponsored by Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL), a joint venture between the Industrial Promotion Services (Kenya) Limited and Sithe Global Power, LLC (USA).
Salini is the engineering, procurement and construction firm tasked with completing the project by mid-2011.
“We began work in August and based on the 44-month timeline, are ahead of schedule,†explained Kenneth Kaheru, the BEL deputy construction manager.
He said the social and environmental programmes, which are based on longer-term objectives, were also progressing well.
“Over 5,000 individuals have been compensated and at least 85 households have been resettled and provided requisite land ownership documentation,†added Kaheru.
“Up to 1,000 Ugandans are employed on the project and preference has been given to those from the project-affected communities.â€
Kaheru disclosed that since construction started, the project had improved the livelihoods of the local communities through enhanced water supply, health care and better facilitated primary schools.
“The project is additionally supporting sustainable economic development through worker training, improved agricultural productivity in the communities and promoting other small-scale business activities,†he elaborated.
The project lenders demand this and continually monitor the project’s compliance with their established guidelines.
Construction to date includes blocking the left channel of River Nile at Dumbell Island by building two-cofferdams, pumping out the water to allow the construction of the powerhouse and spillways in the riverbed.
Over 500,000 tonnes of concrete would be placed during the course of the project.
Salini has set up auxiliary facilities required for the execution of the dam project.
These include a 200-tonne-per-hour aggregate crushing plant, concrete batching and temporary power plants, mechanical workshop, laboratory and workers’ camp.
The contractor is also building the foundation for the powerhouse where 5X50 MW turbine generators would be installed within a 28-metre high powerhouse complex.
When completed, the project is expected to sharply reduce the current 150MW power deficit, experts said.
WORK on the 250-mega watts (MW) Bujagali hydro-power project in Jinja, is ahead of schedule, a top manager announced last week. The official said social and environmental impacts had been managed as construction progresses.
The more than $800m (about sh1.32 trillion ) plant is sponsored by Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL), a joint venture between the Industrial Promotion Services (Kenya) Limited and Sithe Global Power, LLC (USA).
Salini is the engineering, procurement and construction firm tasked with completing the project by mid-2011.
“We began work in August and based on the 44-month timeline, are ahead of schedule,†explained Kenneth Kaheru, the BEL deputy construction manager.
He said the social and environmental programmes, which are based on longer-term objectives, were also progressing well.
“Over 5,000 individuals have been compensated and at least 85 households have been resettled and provided requisite land ownership documentation,†added Kaheru.
“Up to 1,000 Ugandans are employed on the project and preference has been given to those from the project-affected communities.â€
Kaheru disclosed that since construction started, the project had improved the livelihoods of the local communities through enhanced water supply, health care and better facilitated primary schools.
“The project is additionally supporting sustainable economic development through worker training, improved agricultural productivity in the communities and promoting other small-scale business activities,†he elaborated.
The project lenders demand this and continually monitor the project’s compliance with their established guidelines.
Construction to date includes blocking the left channel of River Nile at Dumbell Island by building two-cofferdams, pumping out the water to allow the construction of the powerhouse and spillways in the riverbed.
Over 500,000 tonnes of concrete would be placed during the course of the project.
Salini has set up auxiliary facilities required for the execution of the dam project.
These include a 200-tonne-per-hour aggregate crushing plant, concrete batching and temporary power plants, mechanical workshop, laboratory and workers’ camp.
The contractor is also building the foundation for the powerhouse where 5X50 MW turbine generators would be installed within a 28-metre high powerhouse complex.
When completed, the project is expected to sharply reduce the current 150MW power deficit, experts said.