Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station

Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station is a 41 megawatts (55,000 hp) hydroelectric power plant, in Uganda.[2]

For other uses, see Achwa Hydroelectric Power Station.
Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station
Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Uganda
Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of Uganda showing the location of
Achwa 2 HEP Station.
CountryUganda
LocationAchwa River, Gulu District
Coordinates03°08′06″N 32°31′15″E
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Opening date2019[1]
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsAchwa River
Turbines4 x 10.25MW
Installed capacity41 MW (55,000 hp)

Location

The power station is located across the Achwa River, in Gulu District, Northern Uganda. This location is at the border between Gulu District and Pader District, approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) north of the settlement of Aswa.[3] This is approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi), by road, northeast of Gulu, the largest city in Northern Uganda.[4] The geographical coordinates of the powr station are :03°07'46.0"N, 32°30'52.0"E (Latitude:3.129444; Longitude:32.514444).[5]

Overview

This power station is one in a cascade of five power stations planned on the Achwa River totaling 109 megawatts (146,000 hp), with Achwa 2 being the first to be built.[3][6] Achwa 2 is a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity project with planned annual output of 281 GWh.[3]

The power generated will be evacuated via a 132kV high voltage transmission line to a substation in Lira, a distance of approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi), where it will be sold to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (“UETCL”).[6] Other infrastructure that will be constructed include 9 kilometres (6 mi) of service roads, a 38 kilometres (24 mi) road to connect the site to the Gulu-Kitgum Road and a camp for the construction workers.[3][6]

Ownership and funding

The power station is owned and being developed by ARPE Limited.[7] The cost of construction is budgeted at US$78,808,400, of which the African Development Bank lent US$14,330,754 and the remaining US$64,477,646 was borrowed from Delta and other sources.[6] PAC SpA, an Italian construction company, is the EPC contractor for civil works and Voith, a German manufacturer has been contracted to supply the four turbines and associated electro-mechanical parts. The contract includes design, manufacturing, supply, transportation, erection, testing and commissioning of all supplied equipment.[8]

The sources of funding for this project are as illustrated in the table below:[9]

Sources of Funding for Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station
RankFunding SourceAmount (US$)Percentage
1Delta56,955,54172.27
2African Development Bank14,330,75418.18
3Co-financier7,522,1059.55
Total78,808,400100.00

Completion

As of January 2020, the power station was fully constructed. However, only 12 megawatts of the capacity 42 megawatts available was being evacuated via a 33kV power line to Kitgum and Layibi, a suburb in the city of Gulu.[10] The planned development involves construction of a 132kV high voltage transmission line by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), to its substation in Lira. However, disagreements over land compensation for the transmission line delayed construction. The majority of disagreements have been resolved and construction is expected to resume in 2020. The government of Uganda is expected to pay a capacity charge for the 30 megawatts of unused electricity, until the evacuation line is commissioned.[10][11]

In an interview given in March 2022, the managing director/CEO of Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), the government parastatal responsible for evacuating the power from this power station indicated that the 132kV evacuation line and associated substation are expected to be ready during the first quarter of 2023.[12]

See also

References
  1. Berkeley Energy (16 February 2021). "Achwa 2 – Hydro – Uganda". London: Berkeley Energy. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. Ingram, Elizabeth (7 July 2016). "Voith supplying electromechanical equipment for 42-MW Achwa River hydro plant in Uganda". Heidenheim, Germany: Hydroworld.com. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. Kinoshita, N; et al. (14 December 2016). "African Development Bank: Project: Achwa II Hydro Electric Power Project: Country: Uganda: Summary of Environmental and Social Assessment (ESIA)" (PDF). Abidjan: African Development Bank. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. Google (16 February 2021). "Road Distance Between Gulu, Northern Region, Uganda And Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  5. Google (16 February 2021). "Location of Achwa 2 Hydroelectric Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  6. AfDB (14 December 2016). "African Development Bank: Achwa II Hydropower Plant". African Development Bank (AfDB). Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  7. ERA (15 August 2014). "ERA Issues License to ARPE Limited". Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. Voith (7 June 2016), Renewable Energy in Africa – Powering Uganda through Hydropower, Heidenheim, Germany: Voith.com, retrieved 7 September 2017
  9. African Development Bank (14 December 2018). "Achwa II Hydropower Plant: Finance Costs". Abidjan: African Development Bank. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  10. The Independent (3 January 2020). "Achwa power station ready to generate power - UEDCL". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  11. Julius Ocungi (16 July 2019). "Pader Residents Demand Compensation from UEGCL". Uganda Radio Network. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  12. Paul Busharizi (10 March 2022). "Land Owners hampering power grid extension - UETCL". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
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