1. Awards & Honors

Uganda’s largest hydropower station; a flagship project of China–Uganda cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

2. Project Background

Karuma Hydropower Station, in English is Karuma Hydropower Plant / Karuma Hydropower Station (Karuma HPP) , located on the Kyoga Nile River in Kiryandongo District, central-northern Uganda, approximately 270 km . The project adopts a run-of-river hydropower development scheme, which is currently Uganda’s largest single-unit power generation facility in terms of installed capacity 。

Total installed capacity of the project 600 MW , install 6 vertical Francis turbine-generator units, each with a capacity of 100 MW. . According to the UEGCL project documentation, the Karuma Hydropower Station is designed to generate approximately an average annual output of 4 billion kWh ; The design values provided in the early technical documentation of UEGCL are approximately 4.073 billion kWh/year 。

One of the most significant engineering features of the Karuma Hydropower Station is its adoption of “ Low dam + underground powerhouse + long tailrace tunnel The overall layout is as follows: the power station’s main generating units and core electromechanical equipment are housed in an underground powerhouse system, which UEGCL describes as one of the largest underground hydropower stations in East Africa. The project utilizes two exceptionally long tailrace tunnels to convey the discharged water back to the downstream section of the Nile, thereby minimizing the footprint of surface infrastructure on the surrounding ecological areas.

The project was on Construction was launched in August 2013. , the Ugandan government and the Chinese government have collaborated on project financing and construction, with EPC implementation undertaken by **Sinohydro Corporation Limited (China Hydropower / POWERCHINA Group)**. According to publicly disclosed financial data from the Ugandan government, the total investment for the Karuma Hydropower Station and its associated transmission infrastructure is approximately US$1.688 billion , approximately in the project construction funds 85% is financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, while 15% is borne by the Government of Uganda. 。

Karuma Hydropower Station was in Entered commercial operation on June 12, 2024. and will be taken over and operated by Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL). September 26, 2024 Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni officially inaugurated the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Station and its associated transmission project.

As of the latest publicly available information, the Karuma Hydropower Station has entered a phase of stable operation. The Ugandan government has… May 11, 2026 It was announced that all six generating units of the power station have been synchronously connected to the national grid, marking the achievement of… 600 MW full-capacity operation 。

3. Engineering Challenges

3.1 Construction of Ultra-Large-Scale Underground Powerhouses and Cavern Complexes Is Highly Complex

The Karuma Hydropower Station employs an underground powerhouse layout.

According to the AFRY project’s technical documentation, the underground main powerhouse cavern is approximately 200 m × 21 m × 53 m , while also constructing the main transformer cavern, access tunnels, cable shafts, ventilation and emergency escape tunnels, as well as an extensive water‑conveyance tunnel system.

Such large-scale underground cavern construction necessitates addressing numerous engineering challenges, including surrounding rock stability, excavation of ultra-large caverns, support systems, groundwater control, concrete placement, and the spatial organization required for the installation of electromechanical equipment.

The underground powerhouse must not only ensure the long-term safe operation of six large hydroelectric turbine‑generator units, but also meet the requirements for transporting and maintaining heavy equipment, as well as for ventilation, drainage, and fire protection; accordingly, it demands exceptionally high construction accuracy and long-term structural stability.

3.2 The underground water conveyance tunnel system, with a length of approximately 25 km, is of large scale.

The Karuma Hydropower Station features an extensive underground tunnel system.

According to the UEGCL’s publicly available project documentation, the entire water conveyance system comprises approximately 25 km underground tunnel network ; Further technical documentation from AFRY indicates that the two main tailwater tunnels have lengths of approximately 8.6 km and 8.7 km , with a diameter of approximately 12.9 m 。

Construction of an underground hydraulic tunnel of such great length and large cross-section places extremely stringent demands on geological investigation, drill-and-blast excavation, surrounding rock support, tunnel lining, seepage control, construction ventilation, and long-distance construction logistics.

3.3 Large underground caverns have stringent long-term requirements for concrete crack resistance and impermeability.

The underground powerhouse, main transformer cavern, water diversion tunnel, tailrace tunnel, and surge chamber are subjected to complex underground conditions and sustained hydraulic pressures over long periods.

These structures not only require concrete to possess adequate strength, but also necessitate the control of thermal cracking, drying shrinkage cracking, and groundwater seepage.

For large underground hydraulic structures, concrete compactness, impermeability, construction joint treatment, and long-term durability directly affect the operational safety of the entire power station.

3.4 Installation and integrated commissioning of six 100 MW large-scale units are complex.

Installation of the Karuma Hydropower Station Six 100 MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units , with a total installed capacity of 600 MW.

The installation of the generating units must be advanced in parallel with the water conveyance system, the underground powerhouse, the main transformer system, the GIS switchgear, the control and protection system, and the high-voltage transmission system.

From the installation of individual units, wet‑state commissioning, and grid connection, to the ultimate achievement of coordinated operation across all units, the project encompasses highly complex electromechanical system integration.

3.5 High construction constraints in ecologically sensitive areas

The Karuma Project is located in an area adjacent to Uganda’s major wildlife reserves, with the tailwater discharge situated at… Karuma Wildlife Reserve Within the scope.

To minimize the project’s ecological footprint, the engineering design incorporates a run-of-river low-head dam and an underground powerhouse, while extensively utilizing underground water‑conveyance tunnels to reduce land use associated with large surface‑level structures and high‑dam reservoirs.

The AFRY project’s technical documentation also explicitly records that Fish Ladder and Ecological Flow Release Facilities , reflecting the project’s consideration of riverine ecological connectivity in its hydraulic engineering design.

3.6 Concurrent Construction of Ultra-Long Transmission Lines

The 600 MW of newly added hydropower capacity requires the concurrent construction of a high-voltage transmission system to ensure its efficient integration into the national grid.

According to publicly available information from Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, the Karuma Transmission and Substation Project comprises:

Karuma–Kawanda: 248 km, 400 kV

Karuma–Olwiyo: 55 km, 400 kV

Karuma–Lira: approximately 76 km, 132 kV

The total length of the three transmission lines is approximately 379 km and concurrently construct or expand substations such as Karuma, Kawanda, Olwiyo, and Lira.

4. Use of Products / Houde Products Applied

For hydropower stations like the Karuma Hydropower Station, this type of… Underground powerhouse + ultra-long hydraulic tunnel + large-scale hydroelectric generating units “Engineering, the Houde Materials Solutions can focus on” Long-term durability of hydraulic concrete, seepage control and crack resistance in underground structures, rapid shotcrete support for tunnels, and grouting for foundations of large equipment. Expand.

For underground powerhouse structures, intake structures, water conveyance systems, and other large-volume hydraulic concrete works, the Houde method may be employed. Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (retarding type) and high-performance mineral admixtures , improving concrete workability, enhancing compactness, and supporting long-term durability control; for crack resistance and volumetric stability in underground hydraulic structures, it can be tailored to Houdé. Hydraulic concrete expansion agent ; For shotcrete support of the headrace tunnel, tailrace tunnel, and underground chambers, Houdé may be used. Alkali-free rapid-setting agent ; For construction joints, expansion joints, and the seepage‑control requirements of underground hydraulic structures, Houdé can be employed. Polymer waterstop ; For the installation of hydroelectric generator sets and foundations for large equipment, it can be adapted to Houdé. High-strength non-shrink grouting material . All of the above products are part of Hode’s official product lineup.

5. Technical Solution

Karuma Hydropower Station through “ Run-of-river low dam for water diversion + underground water conveyance system + underground power house + long tailrace tunnel + high-voltage transmission system “Establish a comprehensive, large-scale hydropower engineering system.”

5.1 Run-of-River Low-Dam Hydropower Development Plan

Karuma adopts Run-of-River Hydroelectric Scheme , by creating the necessary head through lower water-retaining structures rather than constructing ultra-large high‑dam reservoirs.

This scheme can minimize large-scale inundation and land occupation while fully leveraging the Nile River’s natural flow for power generation.

According to AFRY’s technical documentation, the project’s water-retaining structures are constructed using RCC concrete and are equipped with a nine‑bay spillway system, bottom outlets, and ecological flow‑release facilities.

5.2 Underground Powerhouse Layout

The project locates the core power generation system within a large underground cavern.

Underground plant approximately 200 m long, 21 m wide, and 53 m high It is equipped internally with six 100 MW vertical Francis turbine–generator units. Compared with a conventional surface‑mounted powerhouse, an underground layout reduces the footprint on the land and better accommodates the surrounding ecological environment.

5.3 Six water diversion tunnels + two extra-long tailrace tunnels

After passing through the intake system and generating power in the underground powerhouse, the water is discharged back into the downstream river channel via the underground tailrace system.

Project Layout Water intake system for six generating units , two parallel large tailrace tunnels are arranged downstream, with lengths of approximately 8.6 km and 8.7 km , the tunnel diameter is approximately 12.9 m 。

This “underground water conveyance + long tailrace tunnel” system is one of the most distinctive technical features of the Karuma Hydropower Station.

5.4 Underground Pressure Regulation and Hydraulic Control System

The project incorporates a large underground surge chamber to mitigate water hammer pressures caused by load fluctuations in the turbine‑generator units and to regulate hydraulic transients in the underground tunnel system.

According to AFRY’s project documentation, the tailwater surge chamber is approximately sized… 314 m long, 21.5 m wide, and 50 m high 。

Large underground pressure-regulating structures require systematic design with respect to cavern stability, structural crack resistance, water-pressure control, and concrete impermeability.

5.5 Six 100 MW vertical Francis turbine units

Project Configuration 6 × 100 MW Vertical Francis turbine-generator units with a total installed capacity of 600 MW.

The AFRY technical documentation indicates a gross head of approximately 70 m The generating unit converts hydraulic energy into electrical energy via the underground powerhouse and the main transformer system, then transmits it to the surface high-voltage grid.

5.6 “Four Substations and Three Transmission Lines” High-Voltage Transmission System

The Karuma Project not only encompasses the hydropower station itself but also includes the simultaneous construction of a large-scale national grid interconnection project.

The three main transmission lines have a combined length of approximately 379 km, comprising two 400 kV lines and one 132 kV line, and connect substations at Karuma, Kawanda, Olwiyo, Lira, and others. At the time of the project’s completion, the 400 kV voltage level represented a significant upgrade to Uganda’s power transmission capacity.

6. Project Outcomes

6.1 Construction of Uganda’s largest hydropower station completed

Total installed capacity of the Karuma Hydropower Station 600 MW , is currently Uganda’s largest single-unit power generation facility.

Following the project’s commercial operation, Uganda’s total installed power generation capacity will increase to Over 2000 MW , significantly expanding the scale of the national power system.

6.2 Commercial operation commenced in June 2024.

UEGCL’s official record of the Karuma Power Station The Commercial Operation Date (COD) is June 12, 2024. 。

Effective from this date, the project will enter the formal commercial operation phase, with UEGCL assuming responsibility for its operation and maintenance.

6.3 The national commissioning ceremony was officially held in September 2024.

September 26, 2024 , Ugandan President Museveni officially presided over the commissioning ceremony for the Karuma 600 MW hydropower station and its associated transmission and transformation project.

Both the Ugandan Presidential Office and UEGCL have officially confirmed this.

6.4 Achieve full-capacity operation of 600 MW by 2026.

The Ugandan government on May 11, 2026 It was announced that all six generating units at the Karuma Hydropower Station have been synchronously connected to the national grid, marking the achievement of… 600 MW full-capacity operation 。

This milestone signifies that the Karuma Hydropower Station has progressed beyond the construction and defects liability phases and has entered full‑scale commercial operation.

6.5 The designed annual average power generation is approximately 4 billion kWh.

According to publicly available information from POWERCHINA and UEGCL, the power station’s designed annual average generation capacity is approximately 4 billion kWh 。

This low-carbon hydropower capacity can provide a long-term energy foundation for Uganda’s industrial, commercial, and residential electricity needs.

6.6 Maintaining a High Availability Rate in the First Full Year of Operations

The UEGCL 2025 Annual Report indicates that, during the first operational year following Karuma’s entry into commercial operation, the plant’s equipment… Availability is approximately 98.68%, and reliability is approximately 99.3%. 。

UEGCL also noted that the ingress of floating vegetation, or “floating islands,” into the reservoirs of hydropower stations continues to have temporary impacts on power generation operations.

6.7 Creating substantial local employment and skills-training opportunities

According to publicly available information from Xinhua News Agency and POWERCHINA, during the construction of the Karuma Project, a total of approximately… 15,000 Ugandan employees Participation in the project: local employees account for a long-term share of the project’s workforce. Over 85% 。

The construction of large underground hydropower projects has also enabled some local employees to acquire specialized skills in carpentry, reinforcement, machinery, electrical systems, and hydropower engineering, thereby building a pool of local talent for Uganda’s future infrastructure initiatives.

7. Key Figures

8. Value to China & Uganda

8.1 Value to Uganda

For Uganda, the Karuma Hydropower Station is first and foremost a strategic energy project that significantly expands the country’s electricity generation capacity.

The addition of 600 MW of new installed capacity has brought Uganda’s national power generation capacity beyond… 2000 MW class , providing greater electricity security for manufacturing, mining, agricultural processing, commerce, ICT, and residential use.

Secondly, the project has enhanced the stability of the State Grid.

Karuma not only constructs a hydropower station but also simultaneously develops a 379-km high-voltage transmission network, delivering electricity to the central and northern load centers of Uganda via 400-kV and 132-kV lines.

Third, the project holds significant value as a low-carbon energy source.

POWERCHINA estimates that the project will generate approximately 4 billion kWh of electricity annually, thereby reducing the demand for fossil-fuel-based power generation and lowering corresponding carbon emissions.

Fourth, the project promotes local employment and builds technical capacity.

During construction, a large number of Ugandan employees were directly involved in the excavation of major underground caverns, hydraulic tunnels, electromechanical installation, and project management, ensuring that the project not only generated power‑generation assets but also fostered the development of local engineering talent and the accumulation of technical expertise.

8.2 Value to China

For China, the Karuma Hydropower Station is a flagship project that exemplifies Chinese enterprises’ participation in large-scale hydropower construction in Africa.

The project is under the core construction responsibility of Sinohydro / POWERCHINA, with the works simultaneously covering… 600 MW hydropower station, an ultra-large underground powerhouse, approximately 25 km of underground hydraulic tunnels, two tailrace tunnels each about 8 km long, and a 379 km high-voltage transmission line. , demonstrating the comprehensive capabilities of Chinese enterprises in overseas hydropower project design, underground construction, electromechanical installation, and power transmission and transformation system integration.

The project is also a flagship initiative in China–Uganda cooperation on infrastructure and energy. At the official commissioning ceremony in 2024, the Office of the President of Uganda explicitly expressed its gratitude to the Chinese government for its support in financing the project and commended Sinohydro for successfully completing its construction.

Third, from the perspective of Hode brand communication, the Karuma Hydropower Station exhibits a very typical “ Material Solutions for Large-Scale Underground Hydropower Projects “Scene.”

The project simultaneously possesses Underground powerhouse, a large cavern complex, approximately 25 km of hydraulic tunnels, extra-long tailrace tunnels with large cross-sections, long-term impermeability and crack resistance of hydraulic concrete, shotcrete support, and grouting for the foundations of large turbine‑generator units. And typical requirements.

Centering on similar large-scale hydropower projects, Houde can… Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (retarding type), high-performance mineral admixtures, expansive agents for hydraulic concrete, alkali-free rapid-setting agents, polymeric waterstops, and high-strength non-shrink grouting materials. These material solutions support critical engineering processes, including concrete for underground structures, tunnel lining, waterproofing and impermeability, as well as MEP installation.

Key Data of the Karuma Hydropower Station in Uganda

Project Name: Karuma Hydropower Plant

Project Abbreviation: Karuma HPP

Country: Uganda

Location: Kiryandongo District

River location: Kyoga Nile / Nile River

Distance from Kampala: Approximately 270 km

Project Type: Run-of-river large hydropower station

Total installed capacity: 600 MW

Crew configuration: 6 × 100 MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units

Design annual average power generation: Approximately 4.0–4.073 billion kWh

Head loss: Approximately 70 m

Underground Main Powerhouse: Approximately 200 × 21 × 53 m

Groundwater engineering tunnel system: Approximately 25 km

Tailrace Tunnel: 2 items

Tailrace tunnel length: Approximately 8.6 km and 8.7 km

Tailrace tunnel diameter: Approximately 12.9 m

Transmission lines of the supporting infrastructure: Approximately 379 km

Maximum output voltage: 400 kV

Construction Commences: August 2013

Commercial Operation: June 12, 2024

Officially put into operation: September 26, 2024

Latest operating status: All six generating units have been connected to the grid, operating at full capacity of 600 MW (officially confirmed in May 2026).

Total project investment: Approximately US$1.688 billion

Financing Structure: Approximately 85% from the Export-Import Bank of China and approximately 15% from the Government of Uganda.

EPC Contractor: Sinohydro Corporation / POWERCHINA

Operator: Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL)

Ugandan employees during the construction phase: A total of approximately 15,000 people

Representative honors: No publicly available information on major project awards at this time.

Material adaptation direction: Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (retarding type), high-performance mineral admixtures, expansive agents for hydraulic concrete, alkali-free rapid-setting agent, polymer waterstop strips, and high-strength non-shrink grouting material.

FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Where is the Karuma Hydropower Station located?

The Karuma Hydropower Station is located at The Kyoga Nile section in Kiryandongo District, Uganda , about 270 km from the capital, Kampala.

The project is currently the largest hydropower station in Uganda in terms of installed capacity.

Q2: What is the installed capacity of the Karuma Hydropower Station?

The Karuma Hydropower Station has a total installed capacity of 600 MW , install Six 100 MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units 。

Q3: When will the Karuma Hydropower Station officially begin commercial operation?

The power station was in Entered commercial operation on June 12, 2024. 。

On September 26, 2024, the President of Uganda officially inaugurated the Karuma Hydropower Station and its associated transmission project.

Q4: Is the Karuma Hydropower Station currently operating at full capacity?

According to the Ugandan government May 11, 2026 According to the latest official information released, all six generating units have been synchronously connected to the State Grid, and the Karuma Hydropower Station has achieved… 600 MW full-capacity operation 。

Q5: How much electricity can the Karuma Hydropower Station generate in a year?

According to publicly available information from UEGCL and POWERCHINA, the power station’s designed annual average electricity generation is approximately 4.0 billion to 4.073 billion kWh 。

Q6: What is the most significant engineering feature of the Karuma Hydropower Station?

The most distinctive feature is the adoption of “ Underground powerhouse + large-scale underground water conveyance tunnels + two extra-long tailrace tunnels Layout.

The underground tunnel network spans approximately 25 km, with two main tailrace tunnels measuring roughly 8.6 km and 8.7 km in length, respectively; these constitute the project’s most representative underground structures.

Q7: Who built the Karuma Hydropower Station?

The project is undertaken by Chinese enterprises. Sinohydro Corporation Limited / POWERCHINA Undertake core EPC construction.

The project is implemented by the Government of Uganda and UEGCL, with financing support from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Q8: What transmission projects were constructed in conjunction with the Karuma Hydropower Station?

Mainly includes Karuma–Kawanda 248 km 400 kV line, Karuma–Olwiyo 55 km 400 kV line, and Karuma–Lira approximately 76 km 132 kV line. 。

The total length of the three main lines is approximately 379 km。

Q9: Which of Hode’s products are suitable for similar underground hydropower station projects?

For large underground hydropower projects similar to the Karuma Project, Houde can be recommended based on the specific structural components. Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (retarding type), high-performance mineral admixtures, expansive agents for hydraulic concrete, alkali-free rapid-setting agents, polymeric waterstops, and high-strength non-shrink grouting materials. 。

Among these, polycarboxylate‑based high‑performance water reducers (retarding type) and high‑performance mineral admixtures are suitable for controlling the workability and durability of hydraulic concrete; hydraulic concrete expansion agents are ideal for crack resistance and volume stability; alkali‑free rapid‑setting agents are used for the fast support of shotcrete in underground powerhouse structures and hydraulic tunnels; polymeric waterstops are employed to prevent seepage at joints in underground structures; and high‑strength, non‑shrink grouting materials are designed for grouting foundations of hydro‑turbine generator sets and large equipment.