Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line

Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line is a high voltage electricity power line, under construction,[1][2] connecting the high voltage substation at Kawanda, in Uganda to another high voltage substation at Birembo, in Rwanda.[3]

Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line
Location
CountryUganda and Rwanda
Coordinates0.59046°S 30.430200°E / -0.59046; 30.430200
General directionNorth to South
FromKawanda, Uganda
Passes throughMasaka, Mbarara, Mirama Hills
ToBirembo, Rwanda
Ownership information
OwnerGovernment of Uganda & Government of Rwanda
PartnersAfrican Development Bank
OperatorUganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited & Rwanda Energy Group Limited
Construction information
ContractorsMultiple
Construction started2014
Expected2019
Technical information
Type of currentAC
Total length420 km (260 mi)
AC voltage220kV
No. of circuits2

Location

The 220 kilovolt power line starts at the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited power station at Kawanda, Wakiso District, in Uganda's Central Region, approximately 15.5 kilometres (10 mi), by road, north of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.[4] From here, the line travels to the southwestern Ugandan city of Masaka, a straight-line distance of about 121 kilometres (75 mi).[5] From Masaka, the power line continues west to the city of Mbarara, a straight distance of approximately 130 kilometres (81 mi).[6] From Mbarara the power line travels in a general southerly direction to the town of Mirama Hills, a distance of about 66 kilometres (41 mi).[3] From a substation in the Mirama Hills/Kagitumba neighborhood, the power line continues in a southwesterly direction to end at a substation in Birembo, Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District, Rwanda,[7] in the northern suburbs of Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda, a straight-line distance of about 110 kilometres (68 mi).[8]

Overview

This power transmission line connects the electricity grid of Uganda to that of neighboring Rwanda. It is in line with the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program, Interconnection of Electric Grids Project, led by Regional Manager, Grania Rubomboras.[9] The power line is being developed in tandem with Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station, whose capacity output of 600MW is expected to be consumed locally and the balance sold regionally, with Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as potential customers.[10]

Construction in Uganda

The project on the Uganda side is divided into three sections: (a) the Kawanda–Masaka section, measuring about 137 kilometres (85 mi)[11] (b) the Masaka–Mbarara section, measuring about 130 kilometres (81 mi) and (c) the Mbarara–Mirama Hills section, measuring about 66 kilometres (41 mi).

The Kawanda–Masaka section was constructed at a budgeted cost of US$153.20 million, of which the World Bank lent US$120 million. Completion was expected in January 2019.[11] However, in July 2018, the Daily Monitor reported that the 220kV line had been commissioned.[12][13]

The Masaka–Mbarara section was budgeted at €50 million, to be borrowed from the European Union Africa Infrastructure Fund. Work is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2017 and is expected to conclude in 2019.[2] In March 2018, The Uganda Independent reported that the Ugandan government borrowed €37.1 million from the French Development Agency and another €35 million from the German Development Bank to finance the Masaka-Mbarara section of this transmission line.[1]

The Mbarara–Mirama Hills section was completed in 2015.[14]

Construction in Rwanda

The Mirama Hills/Kagitumba–Birembo section measures approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi). The Mbarara–Birembo section measures about 166 kilometres (103 mi).[15] As reported by the EastAfrican in May 2015, this 220kV network already exists.[16] Rwanda is also in the process of building a 220kV substation in Birembo.[17]

Recent developments

At a later date, the entire Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line is expected to be upgraded to 400kV.[18] In May 2018, the Ugandan government borrowed €37.1 million (about US$44.2 million), from the French Development Agency, to upgrade the 135 kilometres (84 mi), between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara to 400kV.[19] In November 2020, the New Vision newspaper reported that the German Development Bank (KfW) had partially co-funded the upgrade of the Masaka–Masaka section to 400kV.[20]

See also

References
  1. The Independent (15 March 2018). "Uganda: Sh459 Billion Approved for New Nile Bridge, Electricity Power Line". The Independent (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com. Kampala. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  2. "Masaka-Mbarara 220kV Transmission Line". European Union Africa Infrastructure Fund. December 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. UETCL (29 January 2014). "Progress Report of Projects Under Implementation for Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited". Kampala: Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. Google (26 November 2020). "Distance between Amber House, Speke Road, Kampala, Uganda and Kawanda, Central Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. Google (26 November 2020). "Distance between Kawanda Electric Station Project, Kyaddondo, Central Region, Uganda and Masaka District Administration Headquarters, Masaka, Central Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. Google (26 November 2020). "Distance between Masaka, Central Region, Uganda and Mbarara, Western Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  7. Xinhua (8 June 2016). "Rwanda aims to light up 70 percent of rural homes by 2017". Xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  8. Google (26 November 2020). "Distance between Kagitumba, Eastern Province, Rwanda and Birembo, Kigali City, Rwanda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  9. "Women In Energy: Leader Immersed In Power Projects". ESI Africa Magazine. December 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. Wesonga, Nelson (22 June 2016). "Plan to export Karuma excess power on". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  11. WB (30 June 2011). "Electricity Sector Development Project". Washington, DC: =World Bank (WB). Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  12. Nakirigya, Shabibah (30 July 2018). "UETCL commissions lines for power export". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  13. "UETCL Commissions Kawanda-Masaka Power Line, Guarantees Stable Power". Kampala: Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited. 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  14. New Times Reporter (2 May 2014). "Joint Communiqué from the 5th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  15. "Invitation for Prequalification: Construction of Uganda (Mirama) Rwanda (Birembo) 220 Kilo Volt Transmission Line And Associated Substation" (PDF). Abidjan: African Development Bank. November 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  16. Senelwa, Kennedy (16 May 2015). "African states to interconnect power grids". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  17. Kabona, Esiara (11 July 2014). "Rwanda plans to import power from Kenya by 2015". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  18. TETM (December 2014). "Building Modern World Class Infrastructure". The European Times Magazine (TETM). Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. Jeff Mbanga (22 May 2018). "AFD gives Uganda €37.1 million for power transmission line". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  20. Paul Kiwuwa (25 November 2020). "Uganda boosts power transmission lines". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 26 November 2020.

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