Uganda has commissioned the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Station, a $1.7 billion plant financed by China that has been under construction since 2013, Reuters reports.
The plant, which was subject to delays throughout the construction process, is accompanied by a 400 kV transmission line that launched alongside it. China’s Exim Bank financed a $1.4 billion loan for the project, while the remaining costs were handled by the Ugandan government.
Karuma Hydropower Station is located on the Kyoga Nile and commenced commercial operations on June 12 this year. It is owned and operated by the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL). The station has six vertical Francis turbine-generator units, each with a capacity of 100 MW.
Most of Uganda’s electricity generation comes from hydroelectric power. The country is located at the source of the Nile River and is developing a number of run-of-river dams. Uganda has a goal of achieving 80% of its electricity access by 2040, with about 30% access rate currently.
According to the International Hydropower Association, 2 GW of hydropower was installed across the African continent in 2023, with 408.2 MW of that in Uganda.
Hydro Review reported on the commissioning of another large hydropower project in Uganda, 188 MW Isimba hydropower dam, in 2019. This is a $500 million project constructed by China International Water and Electric Corporation, Reuters reports.
