The State Minister for Energy, Okaasai Opolot, has commissioned the 132 kV Gulu-Agago Achwa Transmission Project at the Agago Substation in Pader District.
Initiated in September 2021, the project included two lots of substation extensions and the construction of a transmission line. The substation extension was executed by Larsen Toubro Limited, while the transmission line was constructed by KEC International Limited.
This line was completed and energised on November 18, 2023 and evacuated 83 megawatts of power from Achwa.
The project was financed through a loan of EUR 40 million from the German government through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The money covered the cost of the transmission line and associated substations. The Government of Uganda, however, financed the supervision, land acquisition, and resettlement action plan (RAP) implementation costs.
Following the commissioning of the project, the minister said there would be no more load shedding in Gulu and the neighbouring areas.
“This newly commissioned Gulu-Agago Transmission Line supports the energy policy 2023 and the Energy Development Programme of the NDP, Phase III, to ensure the power generated is evacuated and consumed.” Okaasai said.
The minister said with the Gulu-Agago Transmission Project online, Uganda moves closer to achieving its energy goals, enhancing economic growth, and improving livelihoods through reliable electricity supply.
Joshua Karamagi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), said the commissioning of this line will save the Government of Uganda deemed energy costs worth $2.5 million per month and will directly benefit the people of Northern Uganda by ensuring the supply of reliable and stable power.
UETCL’s role encompasses bulk purchases from power generators and bulk sales to distributors through high-voltage transmission lines, operating the High Voltage Transmission Grid (HVTG) above 33 KV, and managing the National Control Centre.
