Nyagak Power Station
Encyclopedia
Location
The power station is located across the Nyagak River, in Nyapea Sub County, Okoro County, Zombo DistrictZombo District
Zombo District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Zombo.-Location:Zombo District is bordered by Arua District to the north, Nebbi District to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and west...
, in West Nile, Northern Uganda
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. This location lies in the town of Paidha
Paidha
-Location:Paidha is located in Zombo District, West Nile sub region in Northern Uganda. The town lies close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located approximately , by road, south of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region. This location lies approximately , by road,...
, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The coordinates of the power station are: 02 25 52N, 30 58 28E (Latitude:2.4310; Longitude:30.9745).
Overview
The site and the development concept for the project have been extensively studied, including:- An EIA study by Gissat Technical Consultants Limited in 1997
- A detailed feasibility and EIA studies by Harza Engineering 1998
- An EIA study by NORPLAN in 2001
- An Environmental Impact Statement by Environmental Management Associates and ECON Center for Economic Analysis in 2005.
The Nyagak Hydropower project, in its first phase, is expected to generate 3.5 MW, using a run-of-river scheme. A diversion weir, 14 metres (45.9 ft) high, will be constructed about 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) downstream from the Paidha-Nyapea Road Bridge. A power intake will be located at the left abutment of the weir. The water conveyance works comprise a 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) long pipeline, a surge shaft, and a 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) long surface penstock. The powerhouse will be configured to accommodate two 1.65 MW generating units along with the associated electro-mechanical equipment. West Nile
West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region is a region in north-western Uganda that consists of the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe...
is not connected to the Uganda National Electric Grid and is not expected to be connected to the national network until the planned 600 MW Karuma Power Station
Karuma Power Station
-Location:The Power Station will be located at Karuma, on the Victoria Nile, at the present location of the Karuma Falls. This location is adjacent to the location where the Masindi-Gulu Highway, crosses the river Nile. It is approximately , by road, northeast of Masindi and approximately , by...
comes online in 2017.
It is anticipated that power produced from Nyagak will serve a population in excess of one million people in Arua District
Arua District
Arua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, Nebbi District
Nebbi District
Nebbi District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, commercial and administrative centre, Nebbi, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
and Zombo District
Zombo District
Zombo District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Zombo.-Location:Zombo District is bordered by Arua District to the north, Nebbi District to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and west...
. A 33kV powerline connecting the two towns of Arua
Arua
Arua is a town in Arua District, Northern Uganda. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.-Location:...
and Nebbi
Nebbi
Nebbi is a town in Northern Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Nebbi District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
is being developed. A 33kV powerline already exists between the towns of Nebbi
Nebbi
Nebbi is a town in Northern Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Nebbi District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
and Paidha
Paidha
-Location:Paidha is located in Zombo District, West Nile sub region in Northern Uganda. The town lies close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located approximately , by road, south of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region. This location lies approximately , by road,...
, and is just a short distance away from the proposed powerhouse. The structural design allows for future expansion of the generation capacity to 7 MW of power.
All the studies carried out prior to construction of the powerhouse, indicated that there are potentially low environmental and social impacts that would result from the implementation of the Nyagak Hydropower Project. The main reasons for this is that the hydro scheme is small and its impacts are limited. The area is sparsely populated with low aquatic and terrestrial ecological characteristics.
The Nyagak Hydropower project is in line with the Ugandan Government’s plans for the decentralization and privatization of hydropower systems. The Government of Uganda, through support from the World Bank, is in the process of implementing the Energy for Rural Transformation (ERT) through the African Rural Renewable Energy Initiative (AFRREI). West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECO), a subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services
Industrial Promotion Services
Industrial Promotion Services is the industrial development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development . AKFED is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network.-Location:...
, was selected to develop the power plant. Construction began in December 2006.
Construction delays
The project has delayed for nearly two decades due to financial and procurement hurdles at government level. President Yoweri MuseveniYoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
broke ground in February 2006. In December 2006, Czech construction firm Skodaexport Company Ltd. started construction. Since 2006, about ten deadlines have been issued for the completion of the dam.
After multiple delays and interruptions, the construction of the power station resumed in August 2010. Spencon Services of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, is the new contractor on the project. Under revised terms of the construction contract, the Government of Uganda will take a 10% shareholding in the power station. In October 2011, Ugandan media indicated that the power station will now come on-line in December 2011. The commissioning of the dam has now been postponed to January 2012.
Construction costs
The estimated costs for the dam and power plant is approximately US$12 million. This does not include the construction of 33kV transmission power lines linking the towns of PaidhaPaidha
-Location:Paidha is located in Zombo District, West Nile sub region in Northern Uganda. The town lies close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located approximately , by road, south of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region. This location lies approximately , by road,...
, Nebbi
Nebbi
Nebbi is a town in Northern Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Nebbi District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
, Bondo
Bondo, Uganda
Bondo is a town in Arua District, northwestern Uganda.-Location:Bondo is located approximately , by road, southeast of Arua, on the Arua - Nebbi Highway. The coordinates of the town are: 02 47 00N, 30 58 00E.-Overview:...
, Okollo
Okollo
Okollo is a town in Arua District, northwestern Uganda.-Location:Okollo is located approximately , by road, southeast of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region, on the Arua-Nebbi Highway. The coordinates of the town are: 02 39 15N, 31 08 44E .-0verview:Okollo is the headquarters of Okollo...
and Arua
Arua
Arua is a town in Arua District, Northern Uganda. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.-Location:...
, estimated at about US$15 million.
External links
- Nyagak Power Station Expected Ready In 2010
- Nyagak Power Station Ready In Deember 2011
- New Completion Date Is December 2011
See also
- List of power stations in Uganda
- List of hydropower stations in Africa
- List of hydroelectric power stations
- PaidhaPaidha-Location:Paidha is located in Zombo District, West Nile sub region in Northern Uganda. The town lies close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located approximately , by road, south of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region. This location lies approximately , by road,...
- ZomboZomboZombo was a South African singer, songwriter and music producer, best known as a member of kwaito group Abashante.-Biography:...
- Zombo DistrictZombo DistrictZombo District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Zombo.-Location:Zombo District is bordered by Arua District to the north, Nebbi District to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and west...