UGANDA ENGINEERS CONDUCT FIRST TESTS OF TURBINES AT KARUMA DAM

Engineers constructing the 600MW Karuma hydropower dam in Kiryandongo District have successfully conducted the first phase of tests on key installations at the facility.

Mr Li Ji, the deputy manager of Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, which is undertaking the construction works, said tests had been conducted on the intake, radial and spillway gates, including some turbines.

“The confirmatory tests push the project to 95% completion status. At our current work pace, we expect all the works to be complete by December, the commissioning deadline,” he said.

Preliminary tests on key equipment started at the end of July until late last month.

The $1.7 billion power plant was initially expected to be commissioned in December 2018 but due to some challenges, it was pushed to December this year.

Works on the outgoing line yard and switch-yard (GIS) are all complete as well as the transmission lines (Karuma-Lira and Karuma-Kawanda). Works on the Karuma-Olwiyo installation line are 98% complete, according to the contractor. The contractor said currently, the overall physical progress of the project stands at 95%, with all the civil works inside the powerhouse, dam’s intake and outfall concrete works complete except the ecological ladder.

Bottom of Form

According to the project owner, the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), construction of the fish ladder (a non-overflow section) is currently ongoing. The section enables fish and other aquatic life to move freely upstream to feed and reproduce.

Andrew Kamagara, an engineer at Sinohydro, said a team of Ugandan engineers is being trained to manage the project so that upon its commissioning, they are ready to assume responsibilities of operations and maintenance once the contractor leaves.

He, however, decried the continuous theft of equipment at the site.

“But due to several managerial discussions, several strategies, including installation of more CCTV cameras, have been issued and many have been arrested and prosecuted,” he added.

Status. The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) has indicated the Chinese firm constructing the Karuma hydro-power project in Kiryandongo District will hand over the project in December as per the contract deadline.https://allafrica.com/stories/201909050750.html