Power deficit to stop 2010
Sep 06, 2006
THE Government wants to eliminate the electricity deficit in the country by 2010 through small hydro-power projects and rural electrification.
By Ibrahim Kasita
THE Government wants to eliminate the electricity deficit in the country by 2010 through small hydro-power projects and rural electrification.
The single energy resource that Uganda possesses in plenty is hydropower, the most environmentally-friendly, hazard-free and cheapest source of energy. The countty has potential to produce more than 1000MW, but the installed capacity is 300MW.
The energy ministry’s 2005 annual report said 36 small hydropower plants had been identified and construction would last 575 days. They will generate at least 50MW for the national grid.
“Concerning renewable energy generation, several projects including small hydro, co-generation in sugar mills and biomass-gasification plants are being developed as public-private partnerships to generate at least 50MW for the grid,†the permanent secretary, Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, said in the summary.
He said an investment programme to develop small renewable energy projects had been laid out.
Mini-hydropower plants are desirable options for Uganda’s inadequate power especially in rural, hilly terrains and remote areas and manageable waterfalls are in plenty. Some private investors in small hydropower plants are SN Power from Belgium, ECO Power from Sri Lanka and Shan Chuan Jiulong of China.
THE Government wants to eliminate the electricity deficit in the country by 2010 through small hydro-power projects and rural electrification.
The single energy resource that Uganda possesses in plenty is hydropower, the most environmentally-friendly, hazard-free and cheapest source of energy. The countty has potential to produce more than 1000MW, but the installed capacity is 300MW.
The energy ministry’s 2005 annual report said 36 small hydropower plants had been identified and construction would last 575 days. They will generate at least 50MW for the national grid.
“Concerning renewable energy generation, several projects including small hydro, co-generation in sugar mills and biomass-gasification plants are being developed as public-private partnerships to generate at least 50MW for the grid,†the permanent secretary, Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, said in the summary.
He said an investment programme to develop small renewable energy projects had been laid out.
Mini-hydropower plants are desirable options for Uganda’s inadequate power especially in rural, hilly terrains and remote areas and manageable waterfalls are in plenty. Some private investors in small hydropower plants are SN Power from Belgium, ECO Power from Sri Lanka and Shan Chuan Jiulong of China.