The government of Uganda is contented with the pace and quality at the Isimba hydropower dam project that is under construction in Nampanyi village, Busaana Sub-county in Kayunga District after a thorough investigation.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Eng. Irene Muloni on Wednesday spent nine hours inspecting the 183MW $556m (about Shs1.8 trillion) dam after President Museveni ordered her to verify on defects and noncompliance with design specifications presented to State House by the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) – the state agency that is mandated with running completed power plants. The lead supervisor, Energy Infratech from India, is accused of failing to supervise Chinese firm China International Water and Electric Corporation.
“In the recent past there have been concerns in the media over defects and noncompliance at Isimba dam but as the government of Uganda we are satisfied with the quality of work. The rock at the site is very robust and the dam is safe,” Ms Muloni told Eagle Online.
“There is no cause for alarm, the tests were done and passed. More efforts have been made to have periodic tests in case there is need for them as we also continue to engage in regular consultative meetings with all the interested parties,” she added.
“Emphasis is being made to address any concerns and also observe the contracts. As government we think we hit a jackpot because we have many experts with all eyes open. We actually drove to Isimba to confirm whether the feared concerns are true but what we have found is that tests have been carried out for every batch of work and all is fine.
The Permanent Secretary, Eng. Kabagambe Kaliisa warned that the contractors to adhere to agreeable contractual specifications for quality work.
“We are grateful to find that there are no defects on the draft tube as reported in the press and if it were true that they existed before, we have found none and this means that you are correct whatever is viewed by supervisors as inaccurate,” he said.
Eng. Kabagambe also said that reports that the lead supervisor, Energy Infratech from India, failed to supervise Chinese firm China Water were untrue but what was observed differences in the implementation framework. The dam’s progression is at 27 per cent and will be completed in August 2018.
