Muzizi Hydroelectric Power Station

The Muzizi Power Station is a proposed 45 megawatts (60,000 hp) hydroelectric power project in Uganda. The project, which has been planned for several years, has received a funding commitment from KfW and the French Development Agency.[1][2]

Muzizi Power Station
Map of Uganda showing the location of Muzizi Power Station
CountryUganda
LocationNdaiga, Hoima District
Coordinates00°57′54″N 30°32′42″E
StatusProposed
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsRiver Muzizi
Reservoir
Normal elevation900 m (3,000 ft)
Commission date2021 (expected)[1]
TypeRun-of-the-river
Turbines8
Installed capacity45 MW (60,000 hp)

Location

The power station is located across the River Muzizi, which forms the border between the Hoima District and the Ntoroko District, close to the south-eastern shores of Lake Albert, in the Western Region. This location is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), by road, south-west of the town of Ndaiga in Hoima District. The station is approximately 285 kilometres (177 mi), by road, west of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.[3]

Overview

As early as 1999, the site of the power station was identified by the government of Uganda as a potential mini-hydropower site. At first, a 10 megawatt project was anticipated. Later, the planned capacity of the project was increased to 26 megawatts. In December 2010, bids for an environmental impact study, power station design, and cost estimation were solicited in the Ugandan media.[4] More recently, the projected capacity has been increased to 44.7 megawatts.[5]

History

Initially, construction was expected to start in 2015, with commissioning planned for 2018.[6] Later, the projected start date was moved to 2017, with commissioning planned in 2019.[7] Commencement of construction has been further postponed until 2019, with commissioning planned for 2021.[1] It is anticipated that the power generated will enter the national grid at a new substation, close to the power station, along a new 132 kilovolt transmission line from Hoima to the Mputa area, continuing to Fort Portal and on to the Nkenda sub-station in Kasese.[8]

In November 2019, Post Media Limited, reported that the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract had been awarded to Strabag, an Austrian construction company. At that time, a memorandum of understanding, between Strabag and the Uganda Ministry of Finance was pending, following which, construction would commence.[9]

Construction costs

In 2007, the construction cost was estimated at about US$30 million for a 10 megawatts (13,000 hp) project.[10] The feasibility studies were funded by a €1.5 million grant from KfW.[11] As of August 2015, the funding for the project breaks down as depicted in the table below:[1]

Funding Sources for Muzizi Power Station
RankFunderAmount in EurosUS$ EquivalentPercentageNotes
1KfW40.0 million42.6 million36.36Loan
2KfW5.0 million5.3 million4.55Grant
3Agence Française de Développement (AFD)45.0 million47.9 million40.91Loan
4Government of Uganda20 million21.3 million18.18Equity
All110 million117 million100.00Total

Recent developments

In 2014, it was reported that the scope of the project had been increased to 44.7 megawatts from the original 26 megawatts. Two interconnected dams, Muzizi A (26 megawatts) and Muzizi B (18.7 megawatts), are now proposed.

The developer was going to be the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), a government parastatal, in partnership with a private investor. In February 2014, UEGCL applied to Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority for a license to generate up to 44.7 megawatts of power at Muzizi. Once the license was granted, the plan was for UEGCL to search for the investor and proceed with construction.[12]

In May 2015, however, the Cabinet of Uganda decided to develop Muzizi without the private investor. Government resolved to borrow from the French Development Agency and KfW to fund the construction. The funds include the cost of building the high-voltage transmission lines that will evacuate the power to the point where it will be integrated into the national electricity grid.[13]

In August 2015, UEGCL, the implementing Uganda government agency, selected the consulting engineers, who will review feasibility studies that have been done by other companies, design the project, and prepare tender documents for a fee of €3,959,771 (about UGX:15.5 billion).[7] The energy generated is enough to supply 1,000,000 new customers.[1]

Bids for civil works and electrical works were advertised in July 2017. UEGCL is the owner-developer entity.[14]

gollark: I mean, you can do `stack build` and run the executable, but this is faster.
gollark: ```stack new [projectname]stack buildstack run```and stuff like that.
gollark: ***__USE STACK__***
gollark: * hosqol
gollark: <:chips:453465151132139521>

See also

References
  1. Barigaba, Julius. "Muzizi project to begin as European lenders give $95 million". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  2. Biryabarema, Elias (10 December 2016). "Uganda signs 90 million euro loan deal for dam". Reuters.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. Globefeed.com (23 December 2016). "Distance between Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda and Ndaiga, Western Region, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  4. DEVEX (9 December 2010). "Consulting Services for The Muzizi Hydro Power Project In Uganda". Devex.com (DEVEX). Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  5. ERA (12 February 2014). "Application for a License for the Establishment of a 44.7MW Hydro Power Plant in Kibaale District". Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  6. Businge, Julius (8 February 2013). "Micro Dams To The Rescue". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. Otage, Stephen (17 August 2015). "Govt signs Shs270 billion Muzizi hydro-power deal". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  8. Giek (September 2008). "Environmental Impact Assessment for Proposed Hoima–Mputa–Fort Portal–Nkenda 132kV Power Transmission Line And Associated Substations" (PDF). Giek.no (Giek). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. Sydona Nazze (13 November 2019). "Strabag, Finance Ministry to sign MoU on Muzizi Hydro Power Project". Kampala: Post Media Limited (PML Daily). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  10. Among, Barbara (10 December 2007). "Powerless In Uganda". Nairobi: Ocnus.net Quoting The EastAfrican. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  11. UEGCL (2013). "Muzizi Small Hydro Power Project (26MW)". Uganda Electricity Generating Company Limited (UEGCL). Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  12. Deep Earth (25 February 2014). "Muzizi Power Project Could Be Licensed Soon". DeepEarthInt.com (Deep Earth). Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  13. Kafeero, Stephen (22 May 2015). "Govt to borrow Shs283b for dam". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  14. ESI-Africa (19 July 2017). "Uganda: UEGCL seeks to develop Muzizi Hydropower project". ESI-Africa.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
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