Mpanga Hydropower Project

Upon commissioning, the Mpanga hydropower plant was able to load only upto 12MW out of its rated capacity of 18MW despite consistent maximum river flow conditions. This resulted in a potential annual energy loss of around 22GWH and SEAMS was contracted to implement a successful turnaround strategy for the distressed project.

SAEMS’ team of experts conducted a comprehensive technical audit and identified a number of factors responsible for a cumulative effect of loss of generation capacity. These factors included structural design, environmental impacts and electrical implications. Through experience, knowledge and our commitment to finding sustainable solutions, a variety of changes and modifications such as weir wall raising, river training, switch yard designs and others were implemented to ensure the plant reached and maintained its rated output of 66GWh per annum. 

It is noteworthy to mention that despite the annual energy estimation of 66GWh per year (as per initial feasibility studies) the Mpanga hydropower plant has consistently exceeded expectations, most notably generating ±100GWh and ±94GWh in 2014 and 2020 respectively. In addition to the turnaround success, the Mpanga hydropower plant is also a certified emissions reduction (CER) project under the UNFCCC CDM protocol.

Since 2019 SAEMS has been providing the operation and maintenance (O&M) services to responsAbility Renewable Energy Holding, the owning company of Mpanga hydropower plant.