Promotion of small power plants over big power plants better for Uganda

Doris Atwijukire

On May 21, 2013, the new vision news paper carried a story entitled “focus shifts to small power plants as fate of Karuma remains uncertain”. First, we thank the Government for taking the initiative and deciding well on what is good for our electricity sector and our country at large.

Small-scale micro hydro power is both an efficient and reliable form of energy most of the time. It only takes a small amount of flow (as little as two gallons per minute) or a drop as low as two feet to generate electricity with micro hydro. Electricity can be delivered as far as a mile away to the location where it is being used.

Micro hydro will be an excellent method of harnessing renewable energy from small streams that available around the country. This is considered to function as a ‘run-of-river’ system, meaning that the water passing through the generator is directed back into the stream with relatively little impact on the surrounding ecology.

Research shows that building a small-scale hydro-power system can cost from $1,000 – $20,000, depending on site electricity requirements and location. Maintenance fees are relatively small in comparison to other energy technologies.

With hydropower dams in Uganda, because of climate change, and unforeseeable forces of nature, they have continuously produced less power than initially expected. For instance, Owen Falls currently produces 74MW instead of planned 180mw and Kiira dam produces 50mw instead of the planned 200mw. The falling of water levels and unpredictable climate makes the future of these dams even grimmer since they require high water levels.

Most big hydro power dams in Uganda, like Karuma, Bujagali, among others are aimed at bringing about economic benefits by increasing access to electricity and generating more investment. However, they have got negative impacts on many peoples’ lives. Acase in point is Bujagali hydro power dam which displaced about 8,700 people. 35 households with about 350 members were relocated and resettled in Naminya resettlement area, Wakisi sub-county in Mukono district. These people were promised many benefits including electricity in their homes, clean water, land titles, schools, a health centre, markets and roads yet, few of these benefits materialized.

Small-scale decentralised options will have the biggest potential for power to rural communities. Micro-hydro dams are easier to implement cost less and have lower environmental impacts than large-scale infrastructure.

Therefore, due to the few negative impact that come along with micro-hydro dam on people’s lives, its low-cost versatility and longevity, developing countries like Uganda should continue promoting and implementing  this technology, to help supply much needed electricity to small communities and villages especially in rural areas.

The writer works with

Africa Institute for Energy Governance

datwijukire@afiego.org