Karuma Dam contractors apologize over cracks
Chairman project implementation committee, Eng. Badru Kigundu (L), Wang Yantao (C) the vice president Sino hydro corporation the company buidling Karuma Power dam addressing journalists in Karuma. On right is Harisson Mutekanga, the Managing Director Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
What you need to know:
Asked who will pay the extra costs that could have been incurred during the period the project stalled, Mr Yantao said they will foot the bills because they have so far spent only 40 per cent of the total project cost, and save for the cracks, the rest of the work is perfect and they are impressed by the quality of work they have done in the project which is unique to them.
Sino Hydro Corporation, the company constructing Karuma power dam has apologised for the cracks at the dam saying they are minor and shouldn’t have caused such public outcry.
While meeting the project steering committee on Thursday, Wang Yantao the executive vice president, East and Southern Africa, said the bad press over the cracks resulted from poor communication and the cultural differences between Ugandans and Chinese. He however insisted the cracks are not as bad as the media has made them appear.
"We admit that we had administrative, management and technical challenges that we still face up to now and are working with government of Uganda, to correct them because we take this project very seriously," he said.
Yantao said because of the importance they attach to this project, their head office in China dispatched its top management to come meet government officials in Uganda and discuss whatever issues there are surrounding the dam and ensure that they are resolved.
“A team of 20 specialised engineers from China has been sent to come and study the cracks, they have been given one week to report their findings,” he said.
Engineer Badru Kigundu the chairman of the project steering committee told the contractor that the task ahead of them is as serious as the high level meeting that the governments of China and Uganda set up to resolve the impasse over the dam.
"Make sure that whatever we agree on here is agreeable to international terms and specifications and should be implemented," he told the Chinese bosses.
Asked who will pay the extra costs that could have been incurred during the period the project stalled, Mr Yantao said they will foot the bills because they have so far spent only 40 per cent of the total project cost, and save for the cracks, the rest of the work is perfect and they are impressed by the quality of work they have done in the project which is unique to them.
“This project is very important to us because it is unique, it is the first of its kind for us in Uganda and Africa, the rock is very good, the foundation is good and the concrete work is excellent," he said adding that they cannot afford to see it shrouded with negative press.
