In a nation-wide effort to save the environment and promote the use of renewable-clean energy , the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) is now implementing the – Charcoal to Power Initiative (CPI) to encourage Ugandans and Institutions to embrace the use of electricity for cooking.
According to Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, this initiative is aimed at promoting modern energy services for cooking among Ugandans -to abandon the traditional cooking methods of using charcoal and firewood.
The Ministry of Energy is now pushing for modern energy services which include; improved stoves, sustainably produced charcoal, ethanol for cooking (EFC), gasifiers, solar water heaters, fuel wood substitution by (LPG), waste to energy programme, and biofuels.
Hon. Nankabirwa was making a Ministerial statement about the status of the energy sector in Uganda -to-date. She noted that improved woodstoves, charcoal stoves, institutional and household stoves, baking ovens, kilns (lime, charcoal, and bricks), casamance, and household biogas systems have already been promoted, demonstrated and disseminated in different parts of the country for Ugandans to embrace the sustainable use of clean -energy sources for social, environmental, and economic benefits of all Ugandans.
Clean energy projects the Ministry has supported include; Pico Hydro (Kasese), Solar Mini Grids (Lamwo, Isingiro, Buvuma, Kasese and Rubirinzi, and the Albertine region); Solar food dryers (Kayunga and Luweero); Solar coffee dryers (Kasese); Solar Street lights (Tororo, Busia, Mukono, Buikwe, Bushenyi and Manafa);
“Under the Energy for Rural Transformation Programme phase II and phase III we have had over 100 schools (89 yet to go), 829 Health Centres (with 117 yet to go) and 71 water pumping stations, across the country electrified.” Nankabirwa stated , adding that in regards to the Wind Technology the ministry has supported the repair of Windmills for water pumping in the Karamoja sub-region, and the installation of Pilot small wind turbines in schools and communities (Kotido, Napak, Namayingo and Kaberamaido). This is in addition to the licensed 20MW wind power plant soon to start construction.
