The firm spearheading the construction of Karuma hydropower plant in Uganda says that the project is 70% complete with commissioning slated for December 2018.
China’s Sinohydro Corporation Ltd has announced that the progress of Karuma hydropower project located in Kiryandongo District is impressive.
The firm’s Vice-President, Wang Yantao said that the project whose construction kicked off in 2013 will be completed in time and on set budget.
Uganda’s state minister for energy, Simon D’Ujanga said the project is major milestone for Uganda.
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“The 600MW Karuma Hydro Power project is one of such big hydro power projects under construction and that once complete will provide reliable and affordable electricity to our people,” D’Ujanga said.
The USD 1.7 billion project is funded by Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of China.The plant will generate 600 megawatts of hydroelectricity upon completion.
In April 2016, the construction suffered four months long delays after cracks emerged in its only dam. But major repairs were undertaken to remedy the situation and prevent further cracking. Construction resumed in August last year.
The project employs some 5,000 Uganda and 1,000 Chinese expatriates from the Sino Hydro Power Company undertaking the works.