| World news Uganda President Museveni inaugurates Karuma, Uganda’s largest power plant
President Yoweri Museveni has officially inaugurated the Karuma hydropower plant, Uganda’s largest power generation facility. Located on the Kyoga Nile River, about 270 kilometers north of Kampala, the plant has a capacity of 600MW, generated by six turbines. The new facility, inaugurated on 26 September 2024, boosts Uganda’s power generation capacity from 1400MW to 2000MW, a significant step toward meeting the country’s growing energy needs. The project, which began in 2016, has been a key component in Uganda’s efforts to ensure a stable power supply for both domestic and industrial use. AFRY, an international engineering and design company, has been involved since the project’s inception. Initially serving as a Strategic Project Management Consultant, AFRY later assumed the role of Owner’s Engineer in 2019, overseeing the plant’s construction and commissioning. In June 2024, AFRY issued a Certificate of Completion to Sinohydro Corporation Ltd., the engineering, procurement, and
construction (EPC) contractor for the project. This marked the beginning of the plant’s operations and its integration into Uganda’s national power grid.
Speaking on the completion of the project, Victor de Genot de
Nieukerken, Karuma Project Director at AFRY, said, “As we celebrate the commissioning and operation of the Karuma hydropower plant, we are proud to be part of the team that helped deliver a reliable power supply for Uganda’s communities and industries. The dedication of the AFRY team, combining expertise from both Switzerland and Uganda, with many relocating to the site, has been instrumental in this achievement.” The Karuma Hydro Power Plant, a run-of-river facility, uses vertical Francis turbines, each capable of generating 100MW. The project is expected to improve power reliability across Uganda and support the country’s economic development. This facility represents a significant milestone in Uganda’s energy infrastructure, contributing to its long-term sustainability and growth.
Tajikistan
OPEC Fund approves $25 million loan for Rogun hydropower plant The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) has approved a $25 million loan to support the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) in Tajikistan. This loan marks the first tranche of a $100 million financing agreement aimed at bolstering the country’s renewable energy capacity and improving energy security. The Rogun HPP is a key part of Tajikistan’s
renewable energy strategy. It is expected to play a vital role in meeting the country’s energy needs and exporting electricity to neighboring countries. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the broader Central Asian region. “Tajikistan has enormous hydro energy
potential and tapping into this natural wealth will strengthen energy security, independence and export capacities,” said OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa. “The Rogun HPP is not only a monumental engineering project but also a crucial step in securing Tajikistan’s energy future. The OPEC Fund is committed to supporting sustainable energy solutions that contribute to local and regional development.” Tajikistan’s Finance Minister, Fayziddin
Sattor Qahhorzoda, emphasized the importance of the project, stating: “The Rogun Hydropower Plant plays a crucial role in Tajikistan’s growth and the region’s shift towards green energy. It tackles power shortages and expands renewable energy access in rural areas, establishing Tajikistan as a prominent contributor to clean energy exports.” The Rogun HPP will feature the tallest dam in the world at 335m and will have a
total generation capacity of 3,780MW. It is designed to generate electricity, regulate water flow, and reduce the risk of floods and droughts. The facility is expected to help meet Tajikistan’s domestic energy demands and supply electricity for export, while promoting renewable energy use and reducing carbon emissions. The $25 million loan follows a Framework Financing Memorandum signed between the OPEC Fund and Tajikistan in June 2024 for the $100 million financing facility. The OPEC Fund has previously supported 18 public sector projects in Tajikistan, including those in transportation, healthcare, and education, reflecting an expanding cooperation between the two parties. The OPEC Fund is a development institution that finances projects in non- member countries, focusing on economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income nations. Established in 1976, the Fund has committed around $27 billion to projects in more than 125 countries.
India
MEIL signs MoU with Maharashtra Government to develop 4000MW pumped storage projects Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Government’s Department of Water Resources to develop two major pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 4,000MW. The projects include the Kamod pumped
storage project in Nandurbar District and the Ghosla pumped storage project in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District. Both projects, developed under the Build-Operate-
Maintain (BOM) model, mark MEIL’s first foray into pumped storage hydro projects. With an investment of Rs. 21,100 crore, the
projects are expected to create approximately 2,500 jobs. MEIL aims to complete the Ghosla project in three and a half years, while the Kamod project is scheduled to be finished in five years. The off-stream projects will provide at least six hours of energy storage daily, utilizing newly constructed upper and lower reservoirs in a closed-loop system. The powerhouses will be equipped with reversible pump turbines, generators, and ancillary systems. The reversible turbines will pump water during off-peak hours and generate electricity during peak demand periods. Initial filling will be done using water from existing reservoirs, and annual replenishment will account for losses from evaporation and seepage. Pumped storage projects are valued for their energy storage efficiency, grid stability, and support for renewable energy integration. The MoU signing event was attended by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deepak Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department, while MEIL was represented by company President R.V.R. Kishore, along with Girish, Ravi Kiran, and Sameer Jha.
Spain Iberdrola’s Alcantara II pumped storage plant gets green light from Spanish Government Iberdrola’s plans for a new reversible pumped- storage hydroelectric plant in Alcantara, Spain, have cleared a major hurdle after receiving approval from the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic
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