Sri Lanka hydro power firm to fast-track Uganda project: report

Dec 10, 2008 (LBO) - A Sri Lankan hydro-power firm which has developed a string of private plants in the island, has been engaged to speed up a stalled hydro-electric project in Uganda, a media report said. D’Ujanga said the new firms were expected to speed up the project despite being involved in a larger Mpanga hydro power project in Western Uganda. Mpanga is said to be an 18 Mega Watt project.

VS Hydro or Vidya Silpa, has teamed up with Reincon, a Ugandan firm to complete the delayed Nygak dam in the Nebbi district, Uganda's The New Vision, an online publication said.

Quoting energy minister Simon D'Ujanga the website said a new contractor was brought in as the project was behind schedule. The report said the World Bank, which is providing 14.4 million dollars for the project was urging it to be speeded up.

He said the 1.5 megawatt plant would be commissioned in July 2009. A sub-contractor Sobetra, would continue to build the power house.

The original target date was December 2007.