Nalubaale, Kiira Dams Closed Due to Floating Weeds

Summary:

• Uganda has temporarily closed its Nalubaale and Kiira hydropower plants after a floating “island” of weeds obstructed the installations on the Nile River. The closure has led to power outages in Kampala and surrounding areas. These plants provide 380 MW of Uganda’s over 1,300 MW capacity. Similar incidents occurred in 2020, causing nationwide blackouts.

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JINJA, (Examiner) – Uganda has temporarily shut down two key hydropower plants in the eastern part of the country after a floating “island” of weeds moved toward the installations. The Nalubaale and Kiira dams, located on the Nile River, were closed on Tuesday to prevent damage from the invasive water hyacinth.

The floating weeds, which have been a recurring problem in the region, have already affected power supply in the Kampala Metropolitan and surrounding areas. Umeme Limited, the country’s main electricity distributor, announced emergency load shedding measures to mitigate the impact of the closure.

Examiner understands, the two plants account for about 380 MW of the country’s current generation capacity of more than 1,300 MW. In 2020, Uganda experienced a nationwide power blackout after floating weeds affected the Nalubaale power plant, one of the leading hydropower stations in Uganda.

The Nalubaale and Kiira power plants were previously operated by Eskom, a South African electricity public utility, under a 20-year concession that expired on March 31, 2023. The Ugandan government has since taken over the operations of the plants.

The water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant, has been a persistent problem in Lake Victoria and the Nile River. It can clog water intake systems and damage hydroelectric turbines, leading to power outages and disruptions to water supply.

According to the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, the water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria has been exacerbated by climate change, pollution, and human activities. The council has recommended measures such as biological control, herbicides, and physical removal to manage the spread of the invasive plant.