Umeme to construct more substations

Umeme Ltd, the largest electricity distribution company in Uganda has embarked on a program of constructing power substations to reduce load shedding and power losses occurring due to transportation of power over long transmission lines.

“Our target is to build two to three substations per year. This is partly in anticipation of our increased generation capacity coming from Karuma and Isimba hydro power projects. The power demand in Uganda is also growing and we have to put in infrastructure to distribute the power,” Selestino Babungi, the Umeme managing director said.

Umeme Ltd has entered into an agreement with ABB Uganda Limited and Babcon Uganda Ltd to build a new 40MVA (Million Volt-Amperes), a medium volt power substation at Kira Town Council, Namugongo. This will ensure sufficient power supply during Pope Francis’s expected visit in November to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine shrine located at Numugongo.

The project is intended to meet growth of estates, industries, pilgrims and tourists visiting the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo. The construction works of the US$4.5m (sh14b) project commences in August and completion is expected in December.

Babungi said the project will benefit customers from Kira, Kireka, Naalya, Kyaliwajjala, Bulindo, Namugongo, Sonde and the surrounding areas.

“Kira town council is growing at a fast rate. The current feed from Kireka is operating at almost 100%. We had to move fast to meet the current demand capacity,” Babungi said. He said there are about 66 substations across the country and the overall distribution losses has fallen from 21.5% in 2013 to about 20% today.

He added that the Kira substation will help ease distribution pressure on the Kireka feeder, which will now be left to reliably supply customers in Seeta and the Mukono areas. The feeder currently has a total of 14,000 customers with 12,000 already converted to the pre-payment metering system.

He said last year Umeme spent up to US$6m (sh19.2b) refurbishing the Kireka feeder by injecting 100 new transformers and replacing up to 4,000 rotten poles.

“There is almost a transformer every after 100 metres. This has tremendously improved the reliability of supply in the area even during rainy season,” Babungi explained.

Emmanuel Lagu, acting managing director ABB Ltd said during the construction they would employ over 100 people that include engineers, technicians and other skilled workers. He said the project would procure materials but components like switch gears, high volt cables and transformers would be imported.

Godfrey Zaribwende, managing director Babcon Uganda Ltd said the project was the equivalent of local content by giving businesses to local and reputable companies.

Umeme is mandated to operate, maintain, upgrade and expand the power distribution network. They are required to retail electricity to customers and to improve efficiency within the electricity distribution system. It’s listed on the Uganda securities exchange (USE) and on the Nairobi securities exchange (NSE).