JINJA – Nalubaale Power Plant has received an upgraded compressed air governor system which will improve the overall plant operations.
The system is a key Balance of Plant [BOP] auxiliary that ensures reliable production, distribution and supply of compressed air to the turbine governing system. Compressed air is used to balance hydraulic oil pressure to aid opening of distributor wicket gates that admit water into the turbines.
The project, carried out with Ugandan contractors at a cost of UGX 500 million (USD 140,000) replaces an old system last upgraded in 1989 (27 years) will improve plant reliability since it has been automated to significantly reduce human operational intervention.
Speaking at the project commissioning, Thozama Gangi, Eskom Uganda Managing Director, said; “We are proud to commission yet another project that will ensure efficient power generation but also extend the lifetime of Nalubaale Power plant while observing high standards of safety.”
The project will improve maintainability options by improving system reliability, but will also foster plant safety and availability. It will also ensure compliance of the 66 year old plant to environment management standards. Eskom received and operates under the highest global environmental standards; ISO 14001:2004(E) Environment Management System which contribute to its Zero Harm culture goal.
While handing over the project, Filbert Kinyanda, the Technical Director of API Technical Services, the contractors who undertook the project said; “We are proud to have worked with Eskom in making a contribution to the maintenance of this national asset that is Nalubaale Power Dam. The newly installed system can self-operate with detection of insufficient air pressure conditions.”
Eskom Uganda has so far invested over UGX 118 Billion (USD 32million) majorly on equipment upgrade with Nalubaale Power Plant taking the bulk of the investment to keep it operating at full capacity now and in the future.
About Eskom Uganda:
Eskom Uganda Limited (EUL) is a subsidiary of Eskom Enterprises SOC Ltd, the investment arm of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, the leading electricity utility company in Africa. Eskom Uganda is an electricity generation company incorporated in Uganda in 2002 and it entered a twenty year concession agreement on 1st April 2003 to operate and maintain two government owned hydro power plants, Nalubaale and Kiira whose total installed capacity is 380MW.The two plants started operations in 1954 and 2003 respectively.
