Since 2019, government has been forking out USD24million annually to pay for dimmed energy at Achwa Hydro Power Plant.
Dimmed Energy according to the board chairperson of power regulator-ERA, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi, occurs when power is generated but is not used due to lack of a transmission line.
This is exactly what has been happening in the case of Pader-based Achwa Hydro Power Plant.
The plant which generates a total of 40MW has been operational since 2019 although it’s output remained unconsumed.
During a tour of the Plant which has two sections one producing 19MW and another 21MW by MPs sitting on the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Wasagali declared that begining December this year, ERA will not pay for dimmed energy after an evacuation line has been installed at Achwa Substation.
“We have been paying USD24million per anum in dimmed energy costs. Since 2019 we are paying. But effective December (this year), following the commissioning of a transmission line on November 18, we’re now evacuating power fully.The plant was producing power and was not being consumed. Now, we’re no longer paying for unused energy” she said.
She encouraged the population to make use of this power to do value addition and lighting of their homes and businesses.
“They should use it to add value to what they produce under the PDM, start up small enterprises, and other related developmental work. They should be able to improve on their incomes now that power is reliable” she said.
The committee led by Dr. Emmanuel Otaala was informed that Achwa is interlinked to Agago substation, Gulu, Oliyo, Nebbi, Arua, Karuma, Lira and Kole substations. With Kole substation acting as an interconnection point for the various substations, ERA C.E.O Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako told members that there’s flexibility of supplying stable power to West Nile subregion.
“The works at Kole is almost complete. They are in the final testing phase. This substation (Kole) is critical because it’s the gateway to West Nile. It’s also good for us to evacuate the dimmed energy at Achwa and Agago” she said adding that government’s promise of providing reliable power to West Nile and Northern Uganda is now assured.
“They can now get power from Karuma, Gulu, Jinja, Achwa, Agago and others. So, there’s going to be very good reliability. This means West Nile people have been catered for fully and it means reliability of supply is guaranteed 24/7” she said.
Meanwhile, Gulu City woman MP Betty Aol Ochan described the developments at Gulu and Achwa as positive initiatives.
She said for some time now, the business community in the city have been complaining of power outages which forced some of them to relocate to Lira where they said supply is reliable.
“This power is a blessing to the people of Gulu. I am happy the substation is finally here.I have been crying for power but my concern has now changed to oil not power. With power, we’re good to go. The business community is going to work and be more productive” she said adding that now that northerners are begining to pick up following 20years of insurgency, access to reliable power and financial support is key.
In another development, Ayivu division-North MP Geoffrey Fetta, welcomed the interconnection at Kole saying this presents an assurance of electricity supply for West Nile. He said both Gulu and Kole substations play a key role in lighting Arua.
“This interconnection means there will be stable supply of electricity. This investment by government is really good and it will facilitate development. It means the business community in Gulu can do business and the cost of production is low” he said.
Fetta also added that he was optimistic that the power will promote employment and urged the leaders to mobilize the masses to do business and also improve on their incomes.
This Parliamentary Committee is currently on an inspection tour of power substations in the east and Northern regions.
