100ah power station in China in Uganda

Uganda on Tuesday successfully launched the last unit of six turbines at the Chinese-built Karuma Hydropower Plant and synchronized it on the national grid, the country's electricity generation agency said. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 6, 2024 shows the facilities of the Chinese-built Karuma Hydropower Plant in Kiryandongo, Uganda. Uganda on Tuesday successfully launched the last unit of six turbines at the Chinese-built Karuma Hydropower Plant and synchronized it on the national grid, the country's electricity generation agency said.

Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), a state-owned enterprise, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the unit, which can generate 100 megawatts (MW), was successfully synchronized to the national grip Tuesday morning. "This makes it the sixth and last generating unit to undergo all the operational tests for readiness," wrote UEGCL.

The power plant, constructed both on the surface and underground below the River Nile in northern Uganda, is expected to generate 600 MW, with each turbine generating 100 MW, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Albert Byaruhanga, project manager of the plant on behalf of the owner, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd., said the power plant is critical in addressing Uganda's inadequate power supply. "Some years back, we were suffering from persistent power cuts, and that is more or less a thing of the past," he said.

Karuma is the second power plant financed by China after the 183-MW Isimba Hydropower Plant. The commissioning of the Isimba plant contributed to raising Uganda's total power generation to 1,176.6 MW, up from 953.8 MW, according to government data. ■