Uganda selected to host the 4th Hydro Africa 2023 Conference and Exhibition
The Conference discusses the regional conferences for AFRICA, co-hosted by AquaMedia International and ICOLD, with the aim of bringing together global experts to focus on issues related to water storage and hydropower development in Africa.
The objective of the regional conferences for AFRICA, co-hosted by Aqua~Media International and ICOLD, in collaboration with the governments of the host countries, is to bring together a group of experts from all parts of the world to focus on issues of specific interest for Africa, in the field of water storage and hydropower development.
Typically, participants include high-level representatives of ministries and utilities, private development groups, consulting practices, international and regional development banks, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
Themes begin with project identification and planning, progress through to financing, design, environmental protection, social aspects, and then construction, operation, maintenance and refurbishment.
Cross-border collaboration for transboundary schemes, challenging sites and climate resilience, as well as capacity building and training, are topics that always feature high on the agenda.
AFRICA 2023 will be the fourth conference and exhibition in this series. The first took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2013, under the auspices of the African Union, with a keynote address from the Commissioner for Energy and Industry. The second was held in Marrakech, Morocco in 2017, under the High Patronage of HE King Mohammed VI.
Uganda is an enthusiastic local partner for AFRICA 2023. International delegates and accompanying persons will meet in beautiful surroundings, for three days of sessions, preceded by workshops and training seminars, and followed by tours to hydro schemes. There will be plenty of additional networking opportunities, and cultural excursions.
Uganda as host country, also known as the Pearl of Africa, ranks among the most active African nations for the recent and current construction of water infrastructure and hydropower plants, and is therefore the ideal host country for AFRICA 2023, which will take place from Monday 10th Wednesday 12th July 2023.
The international conference and exhibition will take place at the luxurious Speke Resort Munyonyo where numerous high-level meetings have taken place, such as the G77 Summit. The resort, with its large modern conference centre, and accommodation in various categories, is located on the shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, and second largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is the source of the mighty Nile River, and the basis for existing and future major hydro schemes in Uganda, and other countries within the river basin.
The conference is being organized and hosted by Aqua~Media International, in partnership with the International Commission on Large Dams. The local partner is UEGCL, with its Steering Committee headed by Dr M Kayondo. Other international supporting organizations include ICID, IEA and CHINCOLD.
President Museveni had recently called for more conferences on water and energy, during the AfWA Congress in Kampala. It was agreed that rural development, small hydro, capacity building and environmental aspects would feature on the conference agenda.
At subsequent meetings, strong support for AFRICA 2023 was also expressed by the Permanent Secretary for Water; the Commissioner for Water and President of UCOLD, and the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Uganda will have plenty of input to the programme from experts within the power and water sectors.
Hydropower currently supplies nearly 90 per cent of electricity in Uganda. The country has always had a strong commitment to developing its substantial potential. Five large hydro plants are in operation: Nalubaale (180 MW); Kiira (200 MW); Bujagali (250 MW); Isimba (183 MW); and, Achwa (42 MW). Now, construction of the 600 MW Karuma scheme is reaching completion, and several small schemes are under construction. UEGCL is also implementing the 44.7 MW Muzizi scheme. Large schemes, at the feasibility study stage, planned on the Nile, include Agayo (840 MW), Oriang (450 MW) and Kiba (390 MW).
An agreement has been signed for a 14 MW cross-border scheme with Tanzania, and a 1.75 MW mini hydro scheme is going ahead on the border with Kenya, as part of the Angologo multipurpose scheme. The small hydro potential of the country is thought to exceed 400 GWh/year.
Uganda’s planners, developers and engineers therefore have plenty of experience to share with their counterparts from all around the world, on dam construction, hydropower development, O&M, powerplant refurbishment, and environmental protection.
