bujagali hydropower project

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

At Bujagali Energy Limited, we take environmental stewardship seriously. We fully appreciate the importance of the Victoria Nile River and its environs as an invaluable natural resource. That's why we're committed to preserving and enhancing the area near the hydropower project for current and future generations.

The following summarizes the preliminary environmental mitigation and monitoring measures currently planned:

  • Alternative water supplies (groundwater wells, etc.) for villages with restricted access to the river
  • Native vegetation planted on islands and riverbanks in the new Bujagali reservoir
  • Water quality monitoring during and after construction
  • Monitoring of fish stocks in the new reservoir and the downstream river, and the re-stocking of native fish species, if necessary
  • Environmental measures -- e.g., enrichment planting of forest reserves and islands -- and tourism amenities at the downstream Kalagala Falls site
  • Alternative raft launching and exit facilities for white water rafting enterprises
  • New tourism facilities in the Bujagali area (cultural heritage facilities, dam visitors center, picnic site, etc.)
  • Traffic management, environmental monitoring and management programs to minimize the effects of construction

We're also committed to considering additional public and private initiatives designed to protect the Kalagala Falls reserve.

Discussions are ongoing among numerous local, national and international stakeholders -- environmental and other non-government organizations, community leaders, government officials -- about the effects of the project and possible mitigation actions. This public consultation process will help us finalize an effective and innovative mitigation program to protect and enhance the Victoria Nile River environment.

A detailed description of the program is included in the Social & Environmental Assessment report that was filed with the Government of Uganda (National Environmental Management Authority) and prospective project lenders in December 2006.  Also, more detailed action plans will be prepared after the construction contractor has been selected.