Uganda commissions 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Project
On Thursday, 27 September, Uganda commissioned the Karuma Hydropower Project (KHP), a 600 MW hydropower plant on the River Nile. The $1.7 billion facility, constructed by China’s Sinohydro Corporation, is Uganda’s largest power generation project to date. China financed the entire project, with Exim Bank providing a $1.4 billion loan and the Chinese government covering the remaining costs.
The Karuma plant will boost Uganda’s total generation capacity to over 2GW. Along with the hydropower plant, a 400kV, 248km transmission line was also launched to distribute electricity from the facility. Additionally, a $180 million transmission line is under construction to export electricity to South Sudan. The project is expected to support Uganda’s energy exports to neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, hailed the plant as a “flagship project of China-Uganda cooperation,” providing clean, affordable energy to the region. While construction began in 2013, the project faced delays due to logistical challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted by Ugandan Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa.
KHP is the second major hydropower project funded by China in Uganda, following the 188 MW Isimba hydropower dam commissioned in 2019.