Mr Mark Namungo, the senior power analyst at the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), said the project is expected to cost$100m (Shs337b) which was borrowed from the Chinese Exim Bank.

 

"... us being the government implementers of this project, we have contracted CAMC to constrict these substations. We are convinced that they will deliver up-to-standard work," Mr Namungo said.

 

He said 85 per cent of the money will be spent on the construction of the four mega power sub-stations whereas the 15 per cent will be used for resettlement.

 

"We know some buildings and pieces of land may be affected during the construction of the transmission lines. The lines will pass through open spaces not on top of buildings thus calling for resettlements," Mr Namungo said.

 

A memorandum that was signed between the government and Exim Bank in 2013, stipulates that refunding will be done in 15 years, with a three years grace period, at an interest rate of 2.5 per cent per annum.

 

Mr Namungo said the project will, among other things, reduce on power losses due to efficient transmission of energy on the 132KV voltage level compared to the current transmission of 33KV.

 

Other projected benefits include increase in income generating activities, increase in the country's coverage and increase in electrification rate.

 

Time line

 

Mr Yang Guo Liang, the CAMC project manager, while addressing the media last week at the handover of the land titles where the sub-stations are to be constructed, said the project will be complete in a 30 months period.

 

"We hope to complete this project in 30 months period. We have so far constructed over 100 power dams and sub-stations in Asia, Europe and Africa," Mr Liang said.

 

Mr Liang said they were to establish Gas Insulated Switch sub-stations because they are appropriate for polluted and populated areas as they consume little space compared to Air Insulated Substations.

 

He added that the new power substations will see the extension of the national electricity grid by construction of approximately 38km of the 132KV transmission line backbone.

 

The projects

 

The scope of services include the construction of the 15km of 132kV double circuit metallic transmission line from the proposed Namanve South Industrial Sub-station to the proposed Luzira Industrial Park Sub-station, and construction of the 132/33kV, 3x32/40MVA Luzira Industrial Park.

 

Construction of approximately 8km of 132kV double circuit metallic transmission line from the existing 132kV Nalubaale-Namanve transmission line to the proposed Mukono Industrial Park sub-station and construction of 132/33kV, 3x40/63MVA Mukono Industrial Park.

 

Construction of the approximately 10km of 132kV double circuit metallic transmission line from existing 132kV Bujagali-Tororo transmission line to the proposed Iganga Industrial Park sub-station and construction of 132/33kV, 2x32/40MVA Iganga Industrial Park.

 

Construction of approximately 5km, 132kV double circuit metallic transmission line from the existing 132/33kV Namanve sub-station and 132kV Nalubaale-Namanve transmission line to the proposed Namanve South Industrial Park sub-station and construction of 132/33kV, 3x40/63MVA Namanve South Industrial Park.

Source : allafrica.com