| Nyagak Power Station | |
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| Country | Uganda |
| Location | Paidha |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Under Construction |
| Commission date | 2012 (Expected) |
| Power station information | |
| Primary fuel | Hydropower |
| Generation units | 2 |
| Power generation information | |
| Maximum capacity | 3.5 MW |
Nyagak Power Station is a 3.5 MW mini hydroelectric power project in Uganda.
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The power station is located across the Nyagak River, in Nyapea Sub County, Okoro County, Zombo District, in West Nile, Northern Uganda. This location lies in the town of Paidha, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The coordinates of the power station are: 02 25 52N, 30 58 28E (Latitude:2.4310; Longitude:30.9745).[1]
The site and the development concept for the project have been extensively studied, including:
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 (46 ft) high, will be constructed about 600 metres (2,000 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 (0.62 mi) long pipeline, a surge shaft, and a 400 metres (1,300 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 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 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, Nebbi District and Zombo District. A 33kV powerline connecting the two towns of Arua and Nebbi is being developed. A 33kV powerline already exists between the towns of Nebbi and Paidha, 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).[2] West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECO), a subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services, was selected to develop the power plant.[3] Construction began in December 2006.
The project has delayed for nearly two decades due to financial and procurement hurdles at government level. President Yoweri Museveni 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.[4]
After multiple delays and interruptions, the construction of the power station resumed in August 2010. Spencon Services of India, 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.[5] In October 2011, Ugandan media indicated that the power station will now come on-line in December 2011.[6] The commissioning of the dam has now been postponed to January 2012.[7]
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 Paidha, Nebbi, Bondo, Okollo and Arua, estimated at about US$15 million.
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