Concrete electricity poles are to replace the widely-used wooden ones that are prone to rotting and vandalisation, the government has announced.
Appearing before parliament’s natural resources committee on January 24, Irene Muloni, the Energy and Mineral Development minister, said government plans to replace wooden poles with concrete ones. She said she is disappointed to see wooden poles meant to last 30 years rotting within three years.
“Previously, with the plans we had, they would do thorough treatment of wooden poles and they are able to last 30 years for some types and for the ternary ones, for a shorter period of about 10 to 15 years,” Muloni noted.
“However, what is observed these days is that after three years you find a pole rotting and really this is an issue of concern,” she added.
On the measures being taken to address this problem, Muloni talked up concrete poles.
“I know in [terms of] price they are more expensive than wooden electricity poles, but when you are talking in terms of durability they last for very many years. So, with the introduction of concrete poles we shall try to overcome some of these challenges,” she said.
The minister also asked MPs to urge their constituents to stop stealing electricity distribution equipment. She noted that whenever power equipment is vandalized, all consumers suffer. Muloni further said government plans to have the Electricity Act amended so as to introduce punitive measures against vandalism of power installations.
“We need you to support us by sensitizing your respective constituents for them to know that electricity installations are our assets as Ugandans,” Muloni said.
On poles, MPs Fred Baseke (Ntenjeru South), Silas Aogon (Kumi municipality) and William Nzoghu (Busongora North) called on the minister to first examine the cost effectiveness of all types of electric poles before taking a decision.
“I would ask that the cost of concrete and wooden poles be brought to parliament for MPs to see which one is cost-effective. At the end of the day the cost burden goes back to the ordinary Ugandan, and therefore it would be prudent for us as a country to go with the cheaper option but also [which is] sustainable,” Nzoghu said.
The MP agreed that concrete poles last longer but also pointed out that they might be harder to change in case power lines are to be moved from one place to another.
MP Baseke added that the cost of replacing damaged concrete poles might be prohibitive. On his part, MP Aogon said the policy shift to concrete poles might be resisted by some stakeholders within the electricity distribution chain.
“The largest solar plant commissioned recently in Soroti was done using concrete poles but that proposal is likely to meet resistance,” Aogon said.
“Some officials working [in electricity companies] and the ministry of energy have been growing trees for sale and will not like a policy change.”
The MP likened such a shift to the failed attempt to ban polythene bags (kaveera) because of resistance by vested interests.
“Because people have invested in them, each time there are attempts to ban kaveera, they make a lot of noise and implementation of the ban stalls,” Aogon said.
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