NIJMEGEN, Netherlands 1/20/12 (PennWell) -- International consulting firm Royal Haskoning will soon begin work on a hydropower project that will provide electricity to 350,000 people in Uganda's rural western region.
A press release says Royal Haskoning has already arranged a public-private partnership that includes a US$15.5 million Dutch ORIO subsidy, $16.8 million from the Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and $9 million from private investors in a plan being called the "Western Uganda Mini-Hydropower & Rural Electrification Project".
Under the plan, a cluster of 10 small hydropower units with capacities between 7 to 10 MW will be installed alongside a transmission and distribution system. Royal Haskoning says this will increase the percentage of Uganda's rural population connected to the grid from less than 6% to 7.5%.
The design and development phases will begin soon. Contractors will be selected by a tender process.
