Uganda’s electricity capacity to exceed 2,000MW by June – Energy State Minister
Written by Derrick Asaba on November 19, 2021
With the current electricity generation capacity standing at about 1,300megawatts, the government is optimistic that the capacity will exceed 2,000mw by June 2022.
This will be achieved with the desired additional power from Karuma (600mw), Kikagati (16mw), Nyamagasani I (15mw), plus capacity from other small hydropower plants.
Addressing the press today ahead of the Energy and Minerals Week, the State Minister for Energy, Sidronius Opolot Okaasai said that the government is looking forward to developing particular hydropower projects.
“In the medium and long term, the government will develop large and small hydropower projects, including Ayago (840mw), Orianga (392mw), Kiba (400mw), Muzizi I (44MW), Nyagak III (6MW), geothermal resources 450MW, Nuclear, Solar and Wind in pursuit of our Vision 2040 goals,” said Okaasai.
To date, the government has constructed 11 mini-grids that supply electricity to clusters of consumers both on the islands and the mainland. 53 additional mini grids are under implementation.
Okaasai further revealed that the construction of the 400kv lines (248km from Karuma to Kawanda) and 132kv (54km Karuma-Olwiyo high voltage line) to evacuate power for Karuma HPP has been completed.
“The construction of the Kawanda Substation at 98%, Olwiyo Substation at 90% and Lira Substation at 95%,” he added.
This year’s Energy and Minerals Week will run between November 23 and 26 under the theme, “Stimulating the Economy to Safeguard Livelihoods, Jobs, Businesses and Industrial Recovery”.
This is an awareness-centered annual activity organised by the Ministry to encourage the sustainable utilisation of Uganda’s energy and mineral resources.
It has been conducted since 2005 and in the future, the Week will be expanded to include Petroleum according to the Minister.
Among other activities planned for this week are; a mini-exhibition, Launch of 15 mini-grids in Lamwo district and a conference on Renewable Energy.
During the Energy and Minerals Week 2021, the government will also tackle thematic areas like sustainable cooking and affordable power consumption and reliability for industrialization.
“The government plans to make electricity and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) more affordable and available. We intend to safeguard the forests and trees from which we get firewood and charcoal for cooking,” Okaasai said.
He further noted that as has been the government’s focus, power will increasingly become cheaper, especially when Karuma Hydropower Plant comes online in June 2022, plus some minimal electricity sector reforms.
Yesterday on November 18, the Mining and Minerals Bill which seeks to make the mining conditions for Uganda attractive was tabled in Parliament.
As revealed by the Minister, plans to further improve local mining through collaboration with countries with advanced mining industries are underway.
Energy resources in the country that drive production include electricity, petroleum products (petrol, diesel and oil), solar energy, wind, firewood, charcoal and geothermal.
On the other hand, Uganda is endowed with several mineral resources that can be exploited, such as gold, uranium, iron ore, phosphates, copper and cobalt, among others.
