Page 9 - AfrElec Week 34 2022

AfrElec HYDRO AfrElec

Ugandan MPs order probe

into Isimba dam shutdown

UGANDA UGANDAN lawmakers have agreed on the need “The shutdown was due to the flow of water
for a full investigation into an incident which saw into the powerhouse and investigations are
the Isimba hydropower station shut down this underway to establish the exact cause of this
week and the subsequent need to import elec- incident,” the Monitor quotes her as saying.
tricity from neighbouring Kenya, the Monitor The extent of damage due to the flooding and
reports. the cost for repairs has yet to be established, but
On August 17, Uganda scheduled power cuts Nankabirwa said that the costs would be cov-
across the country after the 183MW plant was ered by the operations and maintenance budget.
forced to suspend operations due to flooding “The minister is being mean with the cause
that affected generators and turbines, Minister of the flooding,” David Karubanga, Kigorobya
of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nan- County MP said. “The issue that happened
kabirwa had said. was not flooding; the issue was technical and
However, some MPs questioned the hurry there are chances that they are intentional. Pick
to import power from Kenya when demand interest in the cost of thermal after shutdown of
was not outstripping supply. Deputy Speaker Isimba, you will see. Some of these things are
Thomas Tayebwa ordered the Committee on not by accident and mistake.”
Natural Resources to investigate the shutdown With about 40 power plants, Uganda’s total
and report back in three weeks. installed generation capacity has grown from
According to Nankabirwa, the station flooded 400MW in 2000 to 1,237MW as of October
after maintenance works by the Uganda Elec- 2020, 80% of which is from hydropower. Peak
tricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) demand is about 800MW, according to the
went wrong, which triggered the shutdown. regulator.™

Week 34 25•August•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9