‘Load shedding’ expected
Ugandans will have to brace themselves for tough times ahead in terms of power outages as Isimba hydro-power dam has been shut down over flooding of generators and turbines.
The Government officially shut down the 183MW Isimba Hydropower Plant in Kayunga District for three weeks.
The Ministry of Energy on Monday released a statement indicating that the 183MW power dam would close for the next three weeks. Consequently, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) was directed to implement load shedding to balance power demand and supply.
This means some areas will periodically experience power outage.
Energy Minister Hon . Ruth Nankabirwa, confirmed that the Plant was shut down on 8th August 2022 following operational challenges that led to the flow of water into the power house.
“The Shutdown was undertaken as a safety procedure to ensure the safety of staff and protection of the electro-mechanical equipment,” read part of the notice.
Nankabirwa says the operator, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) is currently undertaking appropriate measures to restore power production at Isimba Hydropower Plant within three weeks.
‘Load shedding’ expected
She also states that her ministry has started the importation of approximately 60 megawatts of power from neighbouring Kenya.
She adds that the transmission company will also dispatch up to 50 megawatts of power from Namanve Thermal Power Plant; dispatch of 20 megawats from the Kakira Power Plant and optimisation of the generation capacity of the available power plants across the country.
Nankanbirwa reassures the public that the sector is working to ensure the situation is normalised as soon as possible.
Uganda generates about 1,300 megawatts of electricity mostly from hydropower plants built along the Nile River, but has a surplus of half of what is generated.
Construction of the 600 megawatts Karuma Hydropower Plant, being built by China’s Synohydro Corporation on the Nile is expected to be commissioned in 2022.
Uganda also exports electricity to neighbouring Kenya and part of Tanzania, eastern DR Congo and South Sudan through UETCL.
