An aerial view of the Karuma Hydropower Plant.
The sixth unit of the Karuma Hydropower Plant, constructed by POWERCHINA through an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model, was recently put into operation in Uganda. This achievement marks the realization of the project's full capacity production goal.
As the largest hydropower plant in Uganda, the Karuma Hydropower Plant has a total installed capacity of 600,000 kilowatts and an annual average electricity generation of approximately 4 billion kilowatt-hours.
The project will save about 1.31 million metric tons of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.48 million tons annually, which is equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees. At the same time, it will reduce the country's electricity prices by 17.5 percent, which is of great significance in regard to electricity security in Uganda and its neighboring countries.
This project is also set to accelerate regional socio-economic development. It has not only improved the local ecological environment, but also created a large number of job opportunities, as local employees make up more than 85 percent of the project's workforce.
Besides the fact that the project has transformed Karuma town into a popular tourist destination, local residents now no longer worry about water or their livelihoods, which greatly enhances their sense of well-being.
