Bujagali power project enters final phase
Nov 10, 2010
ENGINEERS at the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project are preparing to close the right channel of River Nile as the multi-million dollar project moves to the final stages of completion.
By ibrahim kasita
ENGINEERS at the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project are preparing to close the right channel of River Nile as the multi-million dollar project moves to the final stages of completion.
The fast-flowing water in the river channel will be blocked using two coffer dams. One dam will be at the upstream end of Dumbell Island, separating the right and left channel of the Nile and the other one at the downstream end, a kilometre away.
A coffer dam is a structure built across a river, using heavy rocks that cannot be easily washed away by the strong current, and is covered by water-impenetrable murram.
The blockage will also mark the start of the disappearance of the much-cherished Bujagali falls as water will start rising up to create a water head to drive the turbines to produce electricity.
The water between the two coffer dams will be pumped out, emptying the whole right river channel so that the concrete structure can be built on the dry river bed.
“After this date, it will not be possible to travel down the river past the project site. For safety reasons, we advise all users to exit the river upstream of the diversion area,†Bill Groth, the Bujagali Energy construction manager, said.
“This is an important phase because the powerhouse is also approaching completion. We expect to start generation of 50MW in October 2011.â€
The water flow will be diverted and continue to flow through special gateways in the newly-built powerhouse to the left channel of Dumbell Island, which is in the final stages of completion.
The left channel of the river has for the past three years undergone the same procedures after the water was diverted to the right channel of River Nile.
However, hundreds of fisher¬men and rafting businessmen will lose their source of income when the blockage starts on February 15, 2011.
The right channel of River Nile will be temporary blocked as the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project enters its final stages of completion.
After the first unit goes on line, the remaining four units of 50MW each will be commissioned consecutively.
The Bujagali power project is expected to be fully commissioned by April 2012, 36 months after work started.
ENGINEERS at the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project are preparing to close the right channel of River Nile as the multi-million dollar project moves to the final stages of completion.
The fast-flowing water in the river channel will be blocked using two coffer dams. One dam will be at the upstream end of Dumbell Island, separating the right and left channel of the Nile and the other one at the downstream end, a kilometre away.
A coffer dam is a structure built across a river, using heavy rocks that cannot be easily washed away by the strong current, and is covered by water-impenetrable murram.
The blockage will also mark the start of the disappearance of the much-cherished Bujagali falls as water will start rising up to create a water head to drive the turbines to produce electricity.
The water between the two coffer dams will be pumped out, emptying the whole right river channel so that the concrete structure can be built on the dry river bed.
“After this date, it will not be possible to travel down the river past the project site. For safety reasons, we advise all users to exit the river upstream of the diversion area,†Bill Groth, the Bujagali Energy construction manager, said.
“This is an important phase because the powerhouse is also approaching completion. We expect to start generation of 50MW in October 2011.â€
The water flow will be diverted and continue to flow through special gateways in the newly-built powerhouse to the left channel of Dumbell Island, which is in the final stages of completion.
The left channel of the river has for the past three years undergone the same procedures after the water was diverted to the right channel of River Nile.
However, hundreds of fisher¬men and rafting businessmen will lose their source of income when the blockage starts on February 15, 2011.
The right channel of River Nile will be temporary blocked as the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project enters its final stages of completion.
After the first unit goes on line, the remaining four units of 50MW each will be commissioned consecutively.
The Bujagali power project is expected to be fully commissioned by April 2012, 36 months after work started.