Mahoma mini Hydro Power dam switched on in Kabarole
Nov 06, 2018
Kisembo explained that villagers have already benefited from the project through employment, grading of roads and supply of clean water. They have also constructed schools, a church and access roads.
Two Sri Lankan firms have constructed a 2.7MW Mini Hydro Power dam at River Mahoma in Kabarole district, in Western Uganda, at a total cost of $8million(sh29.6bn).
The plant, located 38km from the Fort Portal town and a few kilometers from Mountain Rwenzori, is expected to provide 3,000KW of power to the area and was undertaken by two MG Group of Companies and RENEWGEN Limited. It was completed in a period of 20 months, from January 2017.
The Sri Lankan envoy, Velupillai Kananathan (second left) and officials of the Mahoma Power Project cutting a tape to commission Mahoma Mini Power Project in Kabalore district on October 29, 2018.
The project footprint consists of a diversion weir across the river, 1 km long canal, a fore bay tank, 800 meters of penstock pipe, a powerhouse and a tailrace canal.
The catchment area of the project is 275sqkm and water is diverted at an elevation of 1346 MSL, the water is fed back to the river downstream of the powerhouse.
The Sri Lankan envoy, Velupillai Kananathan said the two companies are currently pioneering construction of other mini-hydro power projects throughout the country.
He said the projects were part of President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Sri Lank in 2013 where he wooed the country's investors to come to Uganda.
The Sri Lankan envoy, Velupillai Kananathan (second right) and officials of the Mahoma Power Project tour the commissioned Mahoma Mini Power Project in Kabalore district
"We are happy with the current conducive environment the Government of Uganda has created, which has enabled investors from Sri Lanka to invest their money here. We shall continue to bring more investors into Uganda," Kananathan said after commissioning.
Ivan Kisembo, the Principal Projects Engineer of Electricity Regulatory Authority(ERA) said, Mahoma obtained a permit from ERA to do a feasibility study in 2012 and later signed a power purchase agreement with the Uganda Electricity Transmission Limited after sourcing financing from the bank.
He said in 2016, ERA gave them a license to construct a power plant and generate hydro power and sell it to them through connection to the national grid.
Kisembo said the Mihoma power was connected to the national grid on October 16 this year and ERA will continue monitoring the project to ensure they operate within the laws and conditions and to ensure they comply. The agreement states that the company supplies power for a period of 20 years.
Mihoma Power Dam on River Mihoma in Kabarole district
He said Mihoma has a capacity of 2.7MW and through the REA approved free connection policy to consumers; priority will be given to villages near Mihoma, which is the generation point.
Kisembo explained that villagers have already benefited from the project through employment, grading of roads and supply of clean water. They have also constructed schools, a church and access roads.
"This was to celebrate a milestone when power was finally switched on and connected to the national grid," he said.
Kisembo said the same company is constructing another mini hydro power project, the Kyambura Hydro Power project in Rubirizi district with a capacity of 7.6MW.
He noted that the Government has licensed 22 other projects out of which 12 are under construction by private developers.