NWSC TO SUPPORT THE EAST AFRICAN CRUDE OIL PIPELINE (EACOP) PROJECT WITH WATER SUPPLY SERVICES

As part of her commitment towards the transformation of Uganda’s economy, National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has partnered with EACOP to support their ongoing Oil Pipeline development Project, through the provision of adequate and reliable water supply services for their facilities and activities. The EACOP Project, which will see the new Oil Pipeline constructed from Kabale in Hoima, through Mubende, Sembabule, Mutukula, and then Tanzania, will have several Pumping Stations and Main Camps and Pipe Yards.  To facilitate their operations, NWSC has been requested to extend reliable water supply services to these stations. As such, NWSC has held a meeting with a Technical Team from EACOP to discuss the modalities of structuring the intervention. Representing EACOP in the meeting was; Emmanuel Blarez (Project Director), Hedi Dendani (Manager Regulatory Compliance), and Lawrence Ssempagi (Regulatory Compliance Uganda Head). On the NWSC side the meeting was attended by; Eng. Alex Gisagara (Senior Director Engineering Services – representing the Managing Director), Eng. Denis Taremwa (Senior Manager IP&D), Alex Natwijuka (Area Manager Sembabule), and Cream Treasure (Senior PR Central Region). From the meeting, EACOP confirmed that their Camp activities will be commencing in July 2022, by which time, water should have been connected to their sites in Mubende, Sembabule and Kyotera. At the same time, the water supply requirements for each of the sites was elaborated as 120,000litres per day for Pump Station 2 in Sembabule, 200,000 litres per day for Camp 2 in Mubende, 200,000 litres per day for Camp 3 in Sembabule and 200,000 litres per day for Camp 4 in Kyotera. Furthermore, the parties agreed upon/clarified that; The water required shall be for domestic use and should comply with the National Potable Water Quality standards for Uganda  Also that NWSC shall undertake the Design-Procurement-Construction of the proposed interventions, extend water to the boundaries of the respective camps after which the internal network shall be the responsibility of the respective Camp contractors and it shall prepare and submit Technical and Commercial Proposals for the proposed interventions to EACOP for review and financing. Waste management shall be managed by the respective Camp contractors under a separate arrangement  Whereas the other Towns were noted as having stable supply, the existing Kyotera water supply system has a low capacity, in which case NWSC shall be required to drill additional boreholes to boost the current production.  From the discussions, it was agreed that the Teams arrange a joint site visit to all the Camp sites in the first week of February, to undertake detailed investigations and embark on the design process, with the aim of having the proposals ready by mid March 2022.  The project is expected to not only benefit the EACOP Camp sites, but the surrounding communities in Kyotera, Mubende and Sembabule as well.

Written by: Cream Ninsiima