The Diversion of The River Nile Kyoga and its generation of 20–30 Gwh/Year Electricity
Background
In May 2019, the research study “Panama Africa” by Xhevair Ngjeqari, Vojna Ngjeqari and Polis University was presented at the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany. This study examines all major Central African lakes using floating water canals. The proposed set of international hydro-engineering projects would allow for connecting through inland waterways and its transversion from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean via Lake Tanganyika. The study confirms the possibility of connections between Lake Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Rukwa, Sagara, and the capital Dodoma, in the state of Tanzania via navigable canals. About 50 million people live in isolation around Lake Victoria, while approximately 20 million live near Lake Tanganyika. The floating canals would directly serve the residents living around the lakes, but also the broader communities of Central Africa. It would also develop and promote local and global maritime trade. The “Panama Africa” project was praised by representatives of African countries and the World Bank as the century engineering projects.
In this study, the Century Project for Uganda Project proposes to build about 800 km of canals, which provide free navigation between the lakes Eduard, Victoria and Kyoga. The Uganda Project connects Lake Eduard H = 913m with floating canals, Lake Victoria H = 1135 m and Lake Kyoga h = 1033m. Construction of waterways in Uganda is a continuation of the project of connecting the navigable canals of Lake Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Rukwa, Sagara, and the capital Dodoma, in the state of Tanzania. The canals are designed with a trapezoidal or rectangular section, with dimensions as in the picture. According to the European standard, the canals allow the navigation of ships and ferries with a capacity of DWT 1350–1500 Tons. Navigation on the canals is free and is carried out in both directions. The canals can be enlarged or reduced as needed.
Problem
Despite high abundant water levels of relief and appropriate terrain, Uganda, Tanzania and all of Central Africa do not produce electricity, they suffer from drinking and municipal water, and their irrigation of agricultural land is inadequate. In 2011, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda presented the study with the title: “Project for Master plan Study on Hydropower Development, in the Republic of Uganda”. This study presented the hydro-energy utilization scheme of the Nile Victoria River and the Nile Kyoga River. For the Nile Victoria River, the project envisioned the construction of the Isimba, Kalagala, Bujagali, Nalubaale, and Oben Falls Hydro Power Plants. These waterways are presently under construction.
As for the Nile Kyoga River, the project envisions the construction of a group of hydropower plants including the Karuma, Oriang Hidro, Ayago Hidro, Murchison Hidro, Paraa GS, etc. Currently, the Huma Central Karuma is under construction. While Ayago hydropower plant is considered a priority, because at a cost of $ 1.6–2 billion it is projected to produce up to E = 4,095GWh / year.
The Ministry of Energy has repeatedly stated that through the implementation of the hydro-energy project, Uganda will become a producer and supplier of energy for Central African countries, but this area is arguably not sufficiently hydric. Conceptual scheme of the hydropower use of the Nile Kyoga — Lake Alberto River is based on the classical concepts of dams, stations and other hydro-technical works. All predicted works do not produce more than E = 6 GWh / year, a relatively small level of energy production
Solution
The century-project for Uganda, in addition to connecting with the lake’s waterway, it includes the design for a new hydro-engineering solution for the Nile Kyoga-Lago Alberto River. Through a derivation of the Nile Kyoga River, the entire height of the water coming out of the Karuma Hydropower Plant and the level of Lake Alberto (H = ± 300m) could be used. The derivation canal or the new derivative river will also partially serve as a navigable canal to Lake Alberto. If the new hydropower plant works with the inflow of Isimba or Bujagali or Karuma Q = 1375 m3 / sec, it will produce E = 30 billion kWh / y = 30GWh / year, or n = 7.5 times more than Hydropower Plant Ayago, which matches the local government’s priorities.
If the new hydropower plant works with the flow of Hydropower plant Ayago Q = 840 m3 / sec, it would produce E = 18.2–21 billion kWh / y = 0GWh / year, or n = 4.5–5 times more than Hydropower Plant Ayago Energy production is realized at max cost. 1.5–2 times the cost of Hydropower Plant Ayago. Energy production is realized without the construction of dams, reservoirs and other hydro works. The derivation canal or the new derivative river will also partially serve as a navigation canal between the lakes. The new project replaces all existing works of the classic project and produces 4–5 times more electricity than the project of the Ministry of Energy.
The new bed of the Nile Kyoga River would pass through the plains of Central Uganda, with no fractures or cataracts, providing drinking water, municipal water, irrigation and assists in urban redevelopment. The construction of three or five hydropower works from the government on the existing river Nile Kyoga, demands expropriations and damages the natural environment. In contrast, the Derived Century Project for Uganda” study demonstrates that after the diversion of the Nile Kyoga River, ecosystems can be maintained while producing a far greater energy output.
The project of the new Hydropower Plant on the diverted river Nile Kyoga Biso, together with the Karuma Hydropower Plant would produce a minimum of 24–34 Billion kWh / y or 24–34 GWh / year. This meets local electricity needs and the surplus could supply other Central African countries. The Century Project for Uganda is the only proposal that effectively achieves the goal of making Uganda the center of electricity generation and supply for Central African countries.
The authors believe that the project to generate electricity from the derivative Nile Kyoga River should be submitted to the Ugandan government as soon as possible, so that funding for the classic Hydropower Plant Ayago Ayago Hydropower Project is temporarily suspended, until a new decision is made.
