Karuma project contractors fly in experts to assess dam cracks
Mr Xu Sheng Jian, the head of technical department, explains to journalists the excavation procedures in the Underground Powerhouse at the Karuma Hydro Power Dam project recently. Courtsey Photo
What you need to know:
Progress. Officials say the project is progressing on schedule.
Kampala.
A team of three dam construction engineers from the Chinese firm, Sinohydro Corporation Limited, have jetted into the country to carry out a thorough assessment of the cracks reported in the spillway section of Karuma dam and recommend the next course of action.
Sinohydro Corporation has since put on hold work in that section of the dam, pending further investigations following a meeting with Energy Minister Irene Muloni and officials from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) during a recent site tour.
“The team led by our vice president Yang Yixin has arrived in Uganda to assess and make recommendations on further steps to rectify the cracks which was downplayed as normal and usually occur during construction of dams of Karuma’s magnitude,” the Sinohydro Corporation’s Karuma dam deputy project manager, Mr Jack Deng, told Daily Monitor on telephone yesterday.
When contacted, the managing director UEGCL, Dr Harrison Mutikanga, however, said: “We have not been informed formally of that development., adding: “It is indeed a welcome development that Sinohydro is taking heed of the remedial action demanded of it.”
Quoting from a technical report on “Repair and Rehabilitation of Dams”, released by the US Army Corps of Engineers (1999), Mr Deng sited Wappapello Dam on the St Francis River near Missouri, Troy Lock and Dam near the city of New York, Lock and Dam No.6, Mississippi River, Dworshak Dam on the North Fork Clear Water River in Central Idaho as among the 11 case studies of dams world over, that developed minor cracks similar to the one at Karuma during construction and can be easily repaired.
“Sinohydro is committed to international work ethics and the works being undertaken at Karuma Project are to the contractual and highest standards given the company’s demonstrated commitment to excellence in hydro-power constructions worldwide,” Mr Deng added.
Progress
Mr Xu Sheng Jian, the head of technical department, said excavation of the main transfer cavern was completed on 20 March 2016.
“The powerhouse excavation work is going on as scheduled. We have excavated 75 per centof the benches so far. Engineers are working around the clock to finish this critical milestone of the project. The excavation work of the powerhouse is expected to be completed by October this year,” he said, adding that 35 per cent of the concrete construction had been completed.
Project tit bits
• Once complete, the dam will generate about 600 Megawatt.
• The project is expected to cost $1.688billion, with Exim Bank of China financing 85 per cent and the government of Uganda 15 per cent.
• According the agreement signed with government, the project will be complete by December 2018. “Sinohydro re-confirms its commitment in delivering a ‘world-class hydro-electric project’ which will be on-time and on-budget,” said Mr Xu.
