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Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station

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Coordinates: 01°03′27″S 30°39′33″E / 1.05750°S 30.65917°E / -1.05750; 30.65917
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Kikagati Power Station
Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Uganda
Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of Uganda showing the location of Kikagati Power Station
CountryUganda
LocationKikagati, Isingiro District
Coordinates01°03′27″S 30°39′33″E / 1.05750°S 30.65917°E / -1.05750; 30.65917
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began2018[1]
Opening dateJanuary 2022
Construction costUS$87 million
Owner(s)Kikagati Power Company Limited
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsKagera River
Reservoir
Normal elevation1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Commission dateJanuary 2022
TurbinesVoith: 3 x 5.19MW
Installed capacity15.57 MW (20,880 hp)
Annual generation115 GWh[2]

Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station, also referred to as Kikagati Power Station, is a 15.57 MW (20,880 hp) hydroelectric power station, in Uganda.[3]

Location

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The power station is located across the Kagera River, along Uganda's International border with the United Republic of Tanzania. This location lies near the town of Kikagati, approximately 75 kilometres (47 mi), by road, south of Mbarara, the largest city in the sub-region.[4] Kikagati lies approximately 331 kilometres (206 mi), by road, southwest of Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country.[5] The geographical coordinates of the power station are 01°03'27.0"S, 30°39'33.0"E (Latitude:-1.057500; Longitude:30.659167).[6]

Overview

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Kikagati Power Station is a mini-hydropower plant, with initial planned capacity installation of 10 MW (13,000 hp). The project involved the construction of a dam, creating a 4,000 square metres (0.99 acres) reservoir lake. The new reservoir lies partly within Tanzania. The new power station was built at the location of another smaller power station that was destroyed in 1979 during the war that removed Idi Amin from power in Uganda.[7]

In September 2011, the planned capacity installation was increased to 16.5 MW.[8] This power project received partial funding from the Uganda GetFit Program.[9]

Development rights

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Initially, the Chinese company China Shan Sheng, was issued the construction license for the project in 2008.[10] At that time, construction costs were estimated at US$25 million. The 33kV transmission line that connects the power from the station to the Uganda national electricity grid was constructed and completed ahead of station commissioning. Some of the power is sold to Tanzania, under arrangements made through the East African Community.[11]

Between 2008 and 2013, the Chinese pulled out of the deal. Development rights were taken up by TrønderEnergi, a Norwegian power company, with a Ugandan subsidiary Tronder Energy Limited. In July 2013, TronderEnergi advertised for suitable firms to bid on the construction of Kikagati Power Station. Bids were also sought on the nearby Nshungyezi Hydropower Station, a proposed 39 MW (52,000 hp) minihydroplant, approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi), downstream of Kikagati, on which TronderEnergi has development rights as well.[12]

Construction timetable

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Kikagati Power Station was awarded a production license by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), in October 2014. SBI International AG was awarded the construction contract.[1] The construction cost was reported at US$50 million, in 2018.[1] Construction started in February 2018, with commissioning planned for the first half of 2021.[1] In March 2019, the project received a total of US$27 million in funding from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).[13] An equal amount of funding (50 percent) was provided by FMO (Netherlands). The project also benefitted from the KfW-funded GET-FiT program.[14][15] In August 2019, Afrik21 reported that the project had reached financial close at that time.[16]

In January 2022, Voith Hydro completed the installation of three turbines, each rated at 5.19 MW, for total generation capacity of 15.57 MW, to be sold directly to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), via a 33kV evacuation line. UETCL, in turn, sells half of the power station's energy to Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO). The total construction cost was reported as US$87 million.[17] A 33kV medium voltage evacuation line transmits the generated energy to a point where it enters the Ugandan electricity grid.[18]

Funding

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Kikagati HPP received funding from a number of funding sources including: (a) Netherlands Development Finance Corporation (FMO) (b) Africa Renewable Energy Fund (c) Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and (d) Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). All loans are to be repaid within 16 years, from date of commercial commissioning.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Odyek, John (19 February 2018). "Government Calls for Timely Completion of Kikagati Dam" (PDF). New Vision Quoted by SBI International Holdings AG. Kampala. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. ^ Meddy Mulisa (29 December 2023). "Tanzania: Year Ender. 2023 - Milestone in Tanzania-Uganda Joint Power Project" (via AllAfrica.com). Daily News (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  3. ^ GetFit Uganda (31 December 2017). "GetFit Uganda: 2017 Annual Report, Kikagati Power Station". GetFit Uganda. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Road Distance Between Mbarara, Uganda And Kikagati, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Road Distance Between Kampala, Uganda And Kikagati, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Location of Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  7. ^ Fred Turyakira (3 September 2008). "Tanzania, Uganda To Build Power Dam". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  8. ^ Infrastructure (21 September 2011). "Tanzania And Uganda To Build Dam On Kagera River". Arusha.WantedInAfrica.com. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  9. ^ Uganda GET Fit (31 December 2017). "Uganda GET Fit Program: 2017 Annual Report". Kampala: Uganda GET Fit Program. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  10. ^ Kasita, Ibrahim (15 May 2008). "More Power Licenses Given Out". New Vision. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  11. ^ EAC. "Cross-Border Electrification Programme". East African Community (EAC). Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ^ DevBus (4 July 2013). "Contractors To Develop The Kikagati Hydro Power Project In Uganda". DevBusiness.com (DevBus). Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  13. ^ Patrick Mulyungi (20 March 2019). "Kikagati Hydropower Project In Uganda Receives US $27 Million Funding". Nairobi: Construction Review Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  14. ^ FMO Netherlands (14 February 2018). "About Kikagati Hydroelectric Power Station: Project Details". The Hague, Netherlands. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  15. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (7 March 2019). "Uganda: EAIF and PIDG invest $27 million in Kikagati hydroelectric project". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (14 August 2019). "Tanzania/Uganda: KPCL completes project financing for Kikagati Dam Project". Paris, France. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  17. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (18 January 2022). "Uganda/Tanzania: Voith Hydro Commissions Kikagati Hydropower Plant". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  18. ^ a b Jean Marie Takouleu (7 March 2019). "Uganda: EAIF and PIDG invest $27 million in Kikagati hydroelectric project". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
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