Construction of the Bujagali Hydro-power Project is running three-months ahead of schedule according to a report from Uganda’s Daily Monitor. The project, one year after the inauguration, is now almost 35% complete.
Construction on the dam began in December 2007, "We’re already done with the excavations and we are now constructing foundations for the five 50 MW power turbines," said Bill Groth, the resident construction manager for Bujagali Energy Ltd. (BEL), the company constructing and managing the project.
According to Groth, the speed in which the project has moved forward is the result of a “$75 million bridge loan that was advanced to BEL by the government." Groth said the proceeds from the loan were used on preliminary activities such as engineering design, detailed site investigation, construction of permanent civil works, a camp site and offices, as well as procurement of equipment which allowed construction on the dam to move forward at a more rapid pace.
The project being executed by an Italian firm, Salini Construction is at its peak, and is currently employing at least 1,200 people operating on day and night shifts.
"At least 1,100 of these are Ugandans hired in different capacities both by Salini and Bel. The remaining 110 are expatriates, mainly from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania," said Groth.
The project will generate a total of 250 MW of power upon fruition.