Govt targets 10% rural power by 2012
May 30, 2004
THE Government will increase electricity access in rural areas from just 1% in 2003 to upto 10% by 2012, a senior Rural Electrification Agency (REA)official said last week.
By Christopher Kiwawulo and Caroline Arinaitwe
THE Government will increase electricity access in rural areas from just 1% in 2003 to upto 10% by 2012, a senior Rural Electrification Agency (REA)official said last week.
Godfrey Turyahikayo, REA executive director, said hydro and solar power would reach rural areas through a programme dubbed, ‘energy for rural transformation.’
“The overall goal of this project is to increase power access to rural areas especially to the private sector,†Turyahikayo said.
He said most agro-based projects in rural areas were spearheaded by the private sector, which employs most of the rural population.
Turyahikayo was presenting a paper on ‘experiences and lessons in provision of energy services for rural transformation’ at the sixth Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture forum at Hotel Equotoria.
The Government with the support of the International Development Agency and Global Environment Fund developed the private sector led 10-year programme.
“Several power consuming projects, including fish processing, coffee processing and small and medium enterprises, countrywide will benefit from the project,†Turyahikayo said.
He said over sh10b had been earmarked for intermediate interventions to provide power to landing sites and coffee processing plants.
He cited fish processing at Majanji landing site in Busia district, maize milling in Kayunga, dairy processing in Bugerere in Kayunga district and coffee processing at Kaweri and Ssembabule.
THE Government will increase electricity access in rural areas from just 1% in 2003 to upto 10% by 2012, a senior Rural Electrification Agency (REA)official said last week.
Godfrey Turyahikayo, REA executive director, said hydro and solar power would reach rural areas through a programme dubbed, ‘energy for rural transformation.’
“The overall goal of this project is to increase power access to rural areas especially to the private sector,†Turyahikayo said.
He said most agro-based projects in rural areas were spearheaded by the private sector, which employs most of the rural population.
Turyahikayo was presenting a paper on ‘experiences and lessons in provision of energy services for rural transformation’ at the sixth Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture forum at Hotel Equotoria.
The Government with the support of the International Development Agency and Global Environment Fund developed the private sector led 10-year programme.
“Several power consuming projects, including fish processing, coffee processing and small and medium enterprises, countrywide will benefit from the project,†Turyahikayo said.
He said over sh10b had been earmarked for intermediate interventions to provide power to landing sites and coffee processing plants.
He cited fish processing at Majanji landing site in Busia district, maize milling in Kayunga, dairy processing in Bugerere in Kayunga district and coffee processing at Kaweri and Ssembabule.