The State Minister for Energy, Hon. Okasaai Opolot, has commissioned the 83 Megawatts Achwa Hydro Power plant located in Atanga sub-county in Pader district.
Speaking at the Commissioning on Wednesday, Hon. Okasaai revealed that the main objective of the project was to evacuate the 83 MW Achwa Hydro Power Plant, which is a strategic transmission line part of the Power Corridor intended to extend power to the West Nile Region through the Gulu – Olwiyo – Nebbi – Arua Transmission Line.
Minister Okasaai added that the project has and will continue to address social challenges within the project affected communities through the hire of semi-skilled and unskilled labour, construction of 19 resettlement homes for the vulnerable and elderly, and through the ongoing process to secure funding to implement community development and livelihood restoration programs.
According to Mr. Joshua Karamagi, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited [UETCL], they successfully completed this project within 18 months of construction and on 18th November 2023, the Achwa-Gulu-Agago 132kV transmission line was connected to start evacuating Power
Mr. Karamaji added that the Project will save the government deemed energy cost of a total of 2.5 million dollars [9.7 billion shillings], adding that the total project cost is 40 million Euros with financial aid provided by the German Development Bank (KfW).
Speaking recently at the Site Tour, Gulu District Chairman, Hon. Christoper Opio Ateker, said he hopes that the Power Line will solve the persistent Power Black-out in Gulu and surrounding districts in Northern Uganda.
Ateker added that the corporate social responsibilities to affected communities will go along way in improving the standards of living of the people in the affected areas.
Source: chimp reports.