Proposed Semliki HP Dam

The project will develop hydropower generation plants at four sites (Semliki, Mogomba, Muyama and Kiyimbi) all located close to the Uganda - D.R. Congo Border. The four sites have potential capacity of 150 MW and energy production of 800 GWh.

Project identification and pre-feasibility studies have been completed. Caped requirement is about US$900 million.

The Semliki River is part of the Nile River Basin with two thirds of its course being in the DRC and the lower third forming the boundary between the DRC and Uganda. Great Lakes Region is characterized by a shortage of indigenous energy sources and highly skewed relationships of dependency regarding energy imports Less than 10% of the population has access to electricity. The region is thus heavily dependent on oil imports Currently, majority of the population of Eastern DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda relies on bio-fuels such as wood The power demand for the cities of Beni, Butembo and surroundings will be supplied from a hydropower station on the Semliki River with a capacity of 72 MW. It will need a step-up transformer MV/HV or MV; including the construction of the distribution network. The Semliki hydropower station would serve mainly the towns of Béni and Butembo as well as the rural areas located around these towns. The available reserve could be exported to the Great Lakes Region with an interconnection grid. The Semliki is one of four (the others are Mogomba, Muyama and Kiyimbi) proposed hydropower projects, packaged to have potential capacity of 150MW, generating annual energy production of 800 GWh.

A hydropower station on the Semuliki River of 72 MW; - power distribution network low and high voltage in the towns of Beni and Butembo and surroundings. The distribution network is envisaged to be a Medium Voltage network. Béni and Butembo will be served by 30 kV lines from the substation at the Semliki plant.

Butembo has already a network LV and MV linked to its own hydropower station. However its network will be adapted to the parameters of the Semliki project (distribution voltage 30 kV, distribution 6.6 kV) and will in some cases be extended. A high voltage transmission line (220kV) from Goma - Butembo - Béni whose feasibility is complete will also be constructed to evacuate the generation from Semuliki.

Dated studies suggested the project would cost USD 900m. Several areas that require particular attention have been noted in previous studies including: Improvement of hydrological data and modelling, economic modelling to determine viability, comprehensive ESIA to address potentially large environmental challenges, the actual geological conditions, layouts and designs. A budget of USD 6m has been included in the phase of the NEL-IP for the required studies to define the project better.

To enhance energy security and regional integration through hydropower generation and power interconnection.

Benefits:

The project will provide electricity, reduce reliance on wood fuel (and hence reduce environmental degradation) and stimulate local economic activities. The project will benefit 1 million people in the towns of Butembo and Beni, and other smaller towns in eastern DR Congo and western Uganda.