Vidullanka achieves second major leap in Africa with 6.5MW Bukinda small hydropower project

Tuesday, 4 August 2020 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Vidullanka PLC, a forerunner in the Sri Lankan renewable energy industry, has taken its second gigantic leap in Africa by commissioning the 6.5MW Bukinda small hydro power project in Uganda.

Vidullanka PLC’s CEO Riyaz Sangani said: “The plant will help generate clean electricity, ushering in a new era of socio-economic potential and development in remote areas. Vidullanka is pleased to commission its second hydro power in Uganda and will continue to develop clean and sustainable electricity in Africa. We are also glad to be part of this new hydropower project that will facilitate access to electricity in remote areas.”

A feature which makes this milestone more gigantic is the way the project management activities of the project were carried out amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the global travel restrictions, the core engineering team stationed in Uganda carried out the tasks using remote monitoring technologies and other communication media while partnering with the management team in Sri Lanka and its suppliers dispersed worldwide. The truly excellent project management capabilities of Vidullanka ensured that all project activities were successfully concluded in a smooth, fluid manner throughout the hullabaloo of the global pandemic.

Bukinda small hydro power project is the company’s second overseas project whilst the first was Muvumbe small hydro power project which was commissioned in 2017. Vidullanka PLC had entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Ugandan Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. (UETCL) at a pre-defined tariff. The new project is commissioned under Timex Bukinda Hydro (U) Ltd., which is a company incorporated in Uganda. This is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Vidullanka PLC.

This newest addition to Vidullanka’s energy portfolio will increase the total plant capacity owned by company to 36.25MW, with a cumulative clean energy exceeding 100GWh annually to the national grids of Sri Lanka and Africa.