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New project will save Uganda $2.5m of monthly energy costs
Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | Power supply in northern Uganda could finally be stable and efficient after Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) commissioned a 132KV transmission project at the Agago sub-station in Pader District. Named the Gulu Agago power line, it was completed and energized on November 18, 2023 and is expected to improve livelihoods, help businesses and power industrial growth.
Okaasai Opolot, the minister of state for energy officially commissioned the project on February 21 in the presence of residents, district leaders in Pader and Gulu. Joshua Karamagi, the CEO of UETCL said the Agago power station would save Uganda deemed energy costs worth $2.5m per month.
“This project will provide the adequate transmission infrastructure to meet the power supply need of northern Uganda,” Karamagi said. He added that power supply was characterized by low quality, a 33KV line, high technical losses and continued power interruptions. On behalf of UETCL, he thanked the contractors and consultants who worked on the project.
The Agago sub station will transmit power from the Achwa 83MW hydro power project. Construction of the project started in September 2021 and was financed by KfW, a German state-owned development bank, who provided a loan of 40mEuros. KfW and the government of Uganda have been collaborating since 1965.
The government on the other hand took on the supervision roles and construction of resettlement homes for the project affected persons. Minister Okaasai lauded the project saying it will not only benefit northern Uganda but other parts of the country.
He said the ministry of energy had learnt lessons during the construction of the Gulu Agago power line. “No new electricity generation project will be approved unless transmission is integrated,” he said. Okaasai also revealed that Uganda should consider selling electricity to South Sudan which needs 100MW of power. He said he had returned from the country where the request was made.
