Executive Exchange on Hydropower Best Practices for Uganda for UEGCL
Kampala, Uganda, May 20 – Under the Energy Utility Partnership Program, the United States Energy Association (USEA), with USAID Power Africa funding, has been helping improve Uganda’s power generation by working closely with the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) since 2017. Over the past five years, the program has prioritized building capacity of Uganda’s hydropower plants through improving operations and maintenance, asset management, and dam safety.
This week, as part of the Uganda Generation Partnership, United States Energy Association (USEA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted an Executive Exchange on Hydropower Best Practices in Ugandafrom May 16, to May 20, 2022 for the Uganda Electricity Generation Company (UEGCL).
The program utilized four volunteer speakers from the United States; Mr. John Yale and Mark Mullins of Chelan Public Utility District, Jonathan Moore of Moore Ventures and Sharon Roach, who shared expertise and knowledge with over 30 participants from UEGCL.
The hands-on training will help participants work on improving operations and maintenance of hydropower plant, Dam Safety and Surveillance Monitoring Plans (DSSMPs), Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) Mitigation Strategy/Condition Assessment/Rehabilitation and, Risk Management Indicators and Quantification Methods. During this exchange, UEGCL gave the experts in-depth tours of their Nalubaale and Kiira Hydropower Complex (380 MW) and Isimba Hydropower Station (183 MW) and discussed improvements in operations and maintenance.
The exchange closed out with remarks by Honorable Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, Honorable Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Eng. Harrison Mutikanga CEO UEGCL, and Mr. Tim Stein, the Program Office Director at USAID/Uganda
Uganda, located at the source of the Nile River, has vast hydropower resources and is in the process of developing a number of run-of-river dams, including the soon to be commissioned Karuma Hydropower Station (600 MW). The country has an ambitious goal of achieving 80% of its electricity access by 2040 with approximately 30% access rate currently with hydroelectricity providing most of the country’s power generation.
