The Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua has launched the Energy Policy for Uganda 2023in which an ambitious plan to generate 52,000MW of electricity by 2040 has been revealed.
Obua, who represented the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja, underscored the importance of the new policy as a significant milestone for posterity.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our country’s history as we gather to launch the new Energy Policy that will shape the future of our country for the next generations to come,” said Obua
He underscored that importance of energy as an enabler for economic growth and national development while at the same time protecting the environment.
“Energy is the lifeblood of any nation, and this launch is being held at a critical time when nations are dealing with ensuring their energy security for socio-economic development,” he said. Uganda’s power generation stands at hydropower (15,000 MW), biomass, solar (10,000 MW), geothermal (potential 1,500 MW), peat (800MW), wind (200 MW), uranium and fossil fuels.
“The sustainable development and utilization of these resources necessitates establishing transparent and well-balanced partnerships with key technology providers across the globe,” he added.
According to Obua , cabinet passed the Energy Policy which focuses on the projected 2040 population and workforce that will be 73 million and 22.1 million, respectively.
“A large portion of this population will be youth who we must support to ensure their employability. Opportunities must be created to support the youth through Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET),” he said.
The projected 2040 generation capacity of 52,000MW is to support large infrastructure such as the Standard Gauge Railway, Oil refinery and Petrochemical industries, and emerging trends such as electric mobility that will require significant amounts of electricity.
The ambitious energy plan is also targeted to facilitate rural electrification for inclusive growth and poverty reduction, irrigation and mechanization to boost agriculture and food security, manufacturing, mining, education and healthcare.
The Permanent Secretary, MEMD Eng. Irene Bateebe said thus , “ If we want modern energy services to be embraced in rural areas which is the biggest population we should think of this in terms of provision of electricity or bringing in the power grid.”
” Am happy this has been presented now because Uganda is in a very fortune position of having an abundance of renewable energy since many industrialized countries like Germany envy Uganda because you have such an abundance of hydro power” Germany ambassador Mathius Schauer said.
