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PowerChina engages Entura to advise on Uganda’s largest hydropower project

March 30, 2017

Specialist power and water consulting firm Entura has been engaged by PowerChina Huadong to deliver hydropower advisory services for the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Project.

Located in northern Uganda, the Karuma Hydropower Project includes a 314m long diversion weir fitted with radial gates, six shafts and associated power tunnels leading to an underground power house containing six 100 MW Francis turbines and two 8.6km long tailrace tunnels. When completed, it will be the largest power station in the country.

PowerChina Huadong is the lead designer for the project and sister-company, SinoHydro, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Entura will assist PowerChina Huadong with managing a range of project stakeholders, undertaking design reviews, and advising on compliance with international standards.

“We’re pleased to welcome Entura to the Karuma project team,” said Mr Wu Haifeng, PowerChina Huadong’s Deputy Design Project Manager for the Karuma Hydropower Project. “Entura brings a wealth of expertise in hydropower design and international standards, which will make an invaluable contribution to the delivery of this landmark project for the people of Uganda.”

Commenting on the appointment, Entura’s Managing Director Tammy Chu said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with PowerChina Huadong on this significant and complex project.”

“We’re confident that our hydropower design expertise and knowledge of international standards, built up through the delivery of our own designs and review of other international projects, will improve the efficiency of the design approval process.”

The Karuma Hydropower Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

As part of Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest renewable energy producer and water manager, Entura draws on more than 100 years of experience of planning, building, managing and maintaining the many assets of Tasmania’s hydroelectric power system.

The firm has been working with clients around the globe, undertaking the design of a number of international hydropower projects over the past decade, including Dordi Khola in Nepal, Nam Pha Gnai in Laos, and Neusberg in South Africa.