Uganda's energy solution lies in biogas

Feb 02, 2012

High electricity tariffs and power shortage are the several problems Uganda is facing today. The demand for electricity is higher than the supply.

 By Doris Atwijukire

High electricity tariffs and power shortage are the several problems Uganda is facing today. The demand for electricity is higher than the supply.

Although the electricity supply increased from 250MW to 300MW since December 2011 when Mutundwe thermal plant resumed its operations, the national demand remains 450MW, leaving a deficit of 150MW.

There is energy poverty in Uganda most especially at household level. This is evidenced by the low consumption levels of renewable energy sources like solar, thermal, geothermal and wind.

Energy poverty has threatened conservation, social-economic development of Uganda’s economy.

The Government has not invested in other energy sources like biogas, solar and wind. Ugandans have the capacity to utilise the abundant energy resources including biogas. Every household has got wastes or manure that can be used to produce electricity. More so, there is a lot of garbage and waste around the city.

Biogas energy is produced from garbage or manure which is readily available. Solid waste generated at domestic level is the largest component of all wastes in the country. Almost 30 to 600 grams of solid waste is generated per person per day. That means an average person produces one tonne of waste per year.

Biogas is cheap, sustainable and efficient compared to hydro power. It is pro-poor because it requires low levels of technology and can be used in remote areas where the national grid cannot reach or serve.

The Government should support the exploitation of other renewable energy resources as an alternative to generation of electricity from dams and fossil fuels.

The Government should learn from China-Shanghai where over 120 thousand people have benefited from the successful turning of waste into electricity. Other countries that have benefited from biogas energy include India and South Korea.

The writer works with Africa Institute for Energy Governance

 

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