Karuma–Kawanda High Voltage Power Line

The Karuma–Kawanda High Voltage Power Line is a high voltage electricity power line, under construction, connecting the high voltage substation at Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station, in the Western Region of Uganda, to another high voltage substation at Kawanda, in the Central Region of Uganda.[1]

Karuma–Kawanda High Voltage Power Line
Location
CountryUganda
Coordinates0.864722°N 32.490000°E / 0.864722; 32.490000
General directionNorth to South
FromKaruma, Uganda
Passes throughKigumba, Nakasongola
Luweero, Matugga
ToKawanda, Uganda
Ownership information
OwnerGovernment of Uganda
PartnersExim Bank of China
OperatorUganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited
Construction information
ContractorsSinohydro Corporation Limited
Construction started2015
Expected2018
Technical information
Type of currentAC
Total length264 km (164 mi)
AC voltage400kV
No. of circuits2

Location

The 400 kilo Volt power line starts at the 400kV substation a Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station, Kiryandongo District, in Uganda's Western Region, approximately 260 kilometres (162 mi), by road, north of Kampala, the capital and largest city in the country.[2] The power line travels in a general south-easterly direction to end at another 440kV substation owned by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), located at Kawanda, in Wakiso District, a total distance of about 264 kilometres (164 mi).[1]

Overview

The power line is being developed in tandem with the 600 MW Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station, whose output is expected to be consumed locally and the balance sold regionally, with Burundi, Rwanda and DR Congo as potential customers. This power line is planned to evacuate the power from Karuma to Kawanda, where it can be distributed to the regional customers.[3]

Associated power lines

Two other high voltage power lines are under construction to evacuate power from Karuma: (a) The 60 kilometres (37 mi), 400kV Karuma–Olwiyo High Voltage Power Line, connects Karuma Power Station to a substation in Olwiyo, Nwoya District, for onward transmission to Pakwach, Nebbi, Paidha, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe and Moyo.[1] and (b) The 80 kilometres (50 mi) 132 kV Karuma–Lira High Voltage Power Line, which connects Karuma to Lira.[1]

Construction

Sinohydro Corporation Limited, the main contractor for the construction of Karuma Power Station is the contractor on this project. The supervising engineering company is "Intec Gopa International Energy Consultants". The budgeted cost of construction, including the cost of the other two energy evacuation lines from Karuma is approximately US$290 million. Funding was obtained from the Exim Bank of China. Construction began in 2015, with commercial commissioning expected in 2018.[1][4]

In March 2020, the Daily Monitor reported that, as of that date, 617 steel high voltage towers had been completed, out of a total of 639 needed to complete the line. That left 22 towers to completion, including 5 in Wakiso District, 4 in Luweero District, 2 in Nakasongola District and 11 in Kiryandongo District. Therefore at that time, the line was 96.5 percent complete, with 3.5 percent uncompleted. Commissioning of the transmission line is scheduled for June 2020.[5]

See also

References
  1. ESI-Africa (14 August 2015). "Uganda partners with China and Germany for transmission project". ESI-Africa.com (ESI-Africa). Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  2. GFC (25 October 2017). "Distance between Post Office Building, Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda and Karuma Village, Western Region, Uganda". Globefeed.com (GFC). Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  3. Wesonga, Nelson (22 June 2016). "Plan to export Karuma excess power on". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. UETCL (29 January 2014). "Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited: Projects Under Implementation". Kampala: Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. Tobbias Jolly Owiny (12 March 2020). "Land owner blocks works on Karuma-Kawanda powerline". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 13 March 2020.

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