Uganda has commissioned the US $127 million Grid Expansion and Reinforcement Project to increase electricity availability and improve power reliability, efficiency, and access in the Northern and West Nile regions.
This initiative is a joint effort between the Government of Uganda and the World Bank Group.
Project Overview
The “Path of Light and Energy” project seeks to increase electricity availability and improve power reliability, efficiency, and access in the Northern and West Nile regions. The project comprises three main components:
- Transmission Infrastructure Construction
- This component involved the construction of transmission lines to increase electricity transmission capacity, addressing the power supply needs of the Northern and West Nile regions. It also interconnects the isolated West Nile distribution network to the primary transmission grid.
- Transmission lines varying in length and voltage have been constructed across the districts of Kole, Oyam, Omoro, Nwoya, Pakwach, Nebbi, Madi-Okollo, and Arua. Short transmission lines (less than 50 km, below 20 kV), medium transmission lines (50 km to 150 km, 20 kV to 100 kV), and long transmission lines (greater than 150 km, above 100 kV) have all been implemented.
- New 2×32/40MVA – 132/33 kV substations and transformers have been established in Gulu, Nebbi, and Arua.
- Project Implementation and Operational Support
- This component supported Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) in enhancing its project implementation capacity, contract administration, and operational effectiveness through technical assistance and modernization of management systems.
- It included capacity assessment and project implementation support, UETCL’s system modernization and biodiversity offset initiatives.
- Sectoral Strengthening Support
- This component focused on policy formulation, strategy, planning, and coordination within the increasingly complex electricity sector.
- It covered coordination and supervision of safeguards, sector skill assessment, and sector skill strengthening programs.
An Impactful Energy Hub for the East African Community
The robust GERP infrastructure is poised to catalyze the steady transformation of Northern and West Nile regions with a stable electricity supply. This transformation will ignite local economic growth by empowering industries, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and hospitality sectors.
The project’s robust power infrastructure can support domestic demand and facilitate cross-border energy trade with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This project also aligns with the broader vision of the Eastern African region as an energy-secure hub by fostering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity. Uganda’s active participation in the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) underscores its commitment to regional cooperation and grid integration. The EAPP, comprising Burundi, Djibouti, DRC, Rwanda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Libya, with recent additions of South Sudan and Somalia, serves as a platform for harmonized power policies and infrastructure development.
Conclusion
The “Path of Light and Energy” project will immediately enhance the quality and cost of electricity services in West Nile, creating economic opportunities and improving access to social services such as health, education, cold storage, and solar water pumping in remote areas.
The GERP aligns with the Energy Policy for Uganda 2023, aiming to ensure a sustainable, adequate, affordable, competitive, secure, and reliable energy supply at the least cost while protecting and conserving the environment.
Upon reaching this milestone, we congratulate His Excellency the President, Energy Sector Players, and the People of Northern, West Nile, and Uganda.
By Ibrahim E. Kasita
Principal Stakeholder Engagement Officer