Kikagati hydropower project in western Uganda has received US US$27million funding from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), according to the developer, Kikagati Power Company Limited (KPCL) which runs the ongoing 16MW run-of-the-river hydro electricity generating station project.
The hydro power project consist of an 8.5m-high dam of 300m in length, creating a 4,000 square meters (0.99 acres) reservoir lake. The plant will also have three turbines of 5.5MW each and associated earthworks, control plant rooms and allied infrastructure connecting the plant to switch yards in Uganda and Tanzania.
Initially, the Chinese company China Shan Sheng, was issued the construction license for the project in 2008. At that time, construction costs of the entire project were estimated at US $25m. In 2013 the Chinese opted out of the deal and development rights were taken up by TronderEnergi, a Norwegian power company, with a Ugandan Subsidiary
In July 2013, TronderEnergi advertised for suitable firms to bid on the construction of Kikagati Power Station and SBI International AG turned out as the best bidder and was awarded the construction contract with a new cost of US $50m. The contractor started work on the site in February 2018, with commissioning date planned for the first half of 2021.
100 per cent of the energy generated will be bought by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). A 33kV transmission line that will connect the power from the station to the Uganda national electricity grid has already been constructed. Under arrangements made through the East African Community UETCL will sell half the energy on to Tanzania.
”The Kikagati hydro power station will strengthen the economic development foundations of Uganda and Tanzania and provide good jobs in construction and operation. Approximately 250 people are involved in construction work and around 10 permanent staff will run the plant once operational,” said Emilio Cattaneo, EAIF Executive Director.