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China accelerates Uganda's green energy drive to fast-track development
28 Feb 2019

 

Isimba Hydropower Plant constructed by Chinese companies in eastern Uganda awaits official commissioning next month after it passed tests from engineers, environmentalists and conservationists.

 

Constructed along the Nile, the world's longest river, the power plant comes in time to save the country from the thermal-generated electricity of high tariff.

 

The rising of the electricity costs forced some of the manufacturers to increase the prices of their products. Uganda's government then resolved to increase hydropower generation in a bid to increase power supply and also reduce its cost.

 

The construction of the 568-million-dollar power plant started in 2015, after the east African country secured a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. This was one of the key green energy projects that China undertook to help Uganda fast-track its development.

 

Another Chinese funded key green energy project is the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Plant, also constructed along the Nile in northern Uganda.

 

Before construction of Isimba in 2015, the contractor China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) was tasked by the government's environmental watchdog, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), to do an environmental impact assessment.

 

After wide consultations from responsible government departments, environmentalists, conservationists, academicians and the community that was going to be affected by the project, CWE was given a go-ahead.

 

"This study was relevant because we had to look at the possible impacts that the project would have on the environment, and social impact as well, and also come up with the mitigation measures before the implementation," Nancy Allimadi, a NEMA official, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

 

Allimadi said CWE worked with the committee to address any concerns that came up, adding that working with CWE showed that Chinese contractors are putting into consideration environmental concerns in their projects.

 

As Isimba nears commissioning, CWE requested Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a state-run conservation agency, to relocate the wildlife that was going to be affected.

 

Bashir Hangi, UWA's spokesperson, told Xinhua recently that a total of 109 wild animals categorized in nine different species, which among others included snakes and monkeys, were safely rescued and released to a new habitat at neighboring Mabira Forest.

 

 

Source: Xinhua News Agency