The Daily Monitor of Uganda reports that President Museveni and His Highness the Aga Khan will formally commission the $860 million (Shs2.1 trillion) Bujagali Hydro Power Project in Jinja on Monday, October 8, 2012. “Construction has come to completion. The new chapter is exciting for us, we are thrilled…” Mr Bill Groth, the Bujagali Energy Ltd’s resident construction manager, said ahead of the commissioning. The Monitor adds that ten regional leaders who are attending the country’s jubilee celebrations are expected to grace the opening ceremony. The foundation ceremony of the dam was laid on August 21, 2007 during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Highness the Aga Khan. During that ceremony, the 49th Ismaili Imam noted: “The laying of this foundation stone is indeed an historic moment. The project we celebrate today is an unprecedented endeavour.” 

Bujagali Dam will be officially opened on Monday October 8, 2012 by His Highness the Aga Khan and President Museveni to mark Uganda’s 50th Independence Anniversary. A report by Arne Doornebal for Radio Netherlands noted that since the long-awaited Bujagali Dam started producing 250 megawatts in June 2012, power cuts have fallen sharply. Photo: Bujagali Energy Limited.

REPEATING AND RENEWING AN ANCIENT STORY

By His Highness the Aga Khan

“Everywhere in the world today, people are searching for ways to reduce the threat of global warming both by limiting greenhouse gas emissions and by fighting the blight of deforestation. The key to both efforts is to move away from plant and fossil fuels, and to depend instead on renewable energy sources. Hydro electric power fulfills that goal. It is “clean” energy – advancing sustainable development while minimizing its environmental impact.

“If this were not the case, we would not have taken up this project, and we could not have attracted such a wide range of public-minded supporters to join in this endeavour. We feel deeply that environmental goals and development goals must be part of a Complementary Agenda – we can serve one set of goals only if we also serve the other. We are proud that the Bujagali project advances that Complimentary Agenda.

“From the very beginnings of civilization, the use of water – intelligently, respectfully, and creatively – has been at the very center of human concerns. The Nile River itself has been a great source and sustainer of life for thousands of years. Today, we repeat and renew that ancient story once again as we lay this Foundation Stone – and thus signal the opening of a new era in African history.” —  Excerpts from a speech made by His Highness the Aga Khan on August 21, 2007

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CLICK ON PHOTO TO WATCH A SHORT VIDEO OF THE FOUNDATION CEREMONY

August 21, 2007: His Highness the Aga Khan and His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, lay the foundation stone for the Bujagali Hydropower Project, Jinja. The US$ 770 million project is the country’s first private hydroelectric power project, and is expected to significantly lower the price of electricity in Uganda. The plant is also one of the largest independent power plants in sub-Saharan Africa. – Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte

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Bujagali related articles at external websites:

Radio Netherlands – Bujagali Dam keeps the lights on in Uganda
The Daily Monitor, Uganda – Bujagali to be commissioned officially today (October 8, 2012)

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