Isimba Dam Contractor Commits to Fix Major Defects within 1 Year

China International Water and Electric Corporation the contractors of Isimba Hydropower Dam has recommitted to repair the defects in the dam.

This commitment followsr a high-profile engagement with government that set out new terms and conditions.

The negotiations were triggered by Artelia and Kkatt consults, (the government supervising engineer) after they identified defects in the Spillway which potentially compromised the integrity of the dam expected to produce 183 megawatts.

After an engagement that involved the ministry of Energy, the parliamentary committee on Natural resources, Uganda Electricity Generation Company and the Owner’s Engineer, the Contractor agreed on different steps of the spillway rehabilitation scheduled to start this month and ensure completion within a period of one year.

Herbert Ariko the chairperson of the Parliamentary committee on Natural Resources that has been at the centre of evaluation of the Dam’s operational status and maintenance initiatives, says the concerned parties have agreed upon an action plan to fix the defects and ensure there is a new insurance cover to address any risks.

Addressing journalists at Parliament the vice President China International Water and Electric Corporation Prof Wanga Yongtian noted that as contracted they are ready to urgently embark on rehabilitation.

Okaasai Opolot, the state minister for Energy assured Ugandans that with this agreed action plan the Isimba HydroPower dam will be completed within a period of year to address the growing demand for electricity, adding that the major costs for the repairs approximately 150 million dollars will be mobilised by the contractors.

“Isimba is one of the critical new assets that we cannot afford to get out of the stream of generation, the demand for electricity in the near future is going to surpass the supply so getting 183 MW off the supply chain will actually cause a disaster even as we talk, that why the focus in on having this asset repaired to its full capacity but without compromising the supply currently.” The minister stated.