Uganda to build two new solar power plants

• 9 years ago (2014-12-11)
• Junior Isles

Africa 306 Middle East 317 Renewables 757

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Uganda has commissioned two new solar power plants with a total capacity of 20 MW in order to develop its renewable energy potential.

The east African country has been mostly pursuing hydropower generation in order to facilitate its prospective industrialisation drive and has supported several multi-billion dollar projects. Officials have also recently called for investors to develop other renewable sources of power such as biomass, waste energy, geothermal and wind power.

Benon Mutambi, chief executive of Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), said that "by introducing a new technology to the generation mix, Uganda's dependency on hydropower is reduced”.

The two power plants will be located in Soroti and Tororo districts, in Uganda's eastern region and would consist of two separate consortiums. The first, made up of the UAE's Access Power MEA and Spain's TSK Electronica, will invest $17 million; whereas the second, made up of Italy's Building Energy Spa and Uganda's Simbe Telecom Ltd., plans to invest $15.5 million.

Access Power MEA's managing director, Stephane Bontemps, said that the project was expected to secure funds next June and start commercial operations by December.