Karuma, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Plant, has been commissioned. President Yoweri Museveni presided over the commissioning ceremony on Thursday. The plant is seen as a strategic infrastructure project that will empower communities, bolster the economy, and help Uganda achieve universal access to electricity by 2030. …
Read More »TotalEnergies expands renewables portfolio with hydropower deals across Africa
Energy giant announces projects across Africa including Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced expansion of its renewables portfolio with new deals in Africa. The energy company bought 100% of SN Power, a subsidiary of Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec, the company said in …
Read More »Uganda government is back to managing the energy sector
The government’s decision to take over Nalubaale and Kira hydropower dams comes barely a year following a similar step on Namanve Thermal Power Plant. Kampala, Uganda | KHISA ISAAC | Ugandan government has repossessed assets of the country’s two oldest hydropower dams Nalubaale and Kira downstream of R. Nile in Jinja …
Read More »Zambia commissions Chinese-built hydropower plant to tackle power deficit
Chikankata, Zambia | Xinhua | Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema officially commissioned a Chinese-built hydropower plant, following the switching on of the plant’s fifth generator on Friday. The five generators at the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station, constructed by the Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Limited, added a total of 750 megawatts to the …
Read More »Africa’s hydropower to almost double by 2037 – IRENA
Hydropower projects in the pipeline will nearly double Africa’s installed capacity by 2037, as Africa looks to dams for green power, water supply and agriculture. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | BIRD AGENCY | Several African countries are ramping up the construction of new hydroelectric projects and expanding the capacity of …
Read More »UEGCL records 24% growth in income to Shs 210bn
Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | State-owned Uganda Electricity Generation Company has maintained a growth trajectory in its annual performance with the latest financial results indicating a 24 per cent growth in income to Shs 210.9billion for the year ended June.30. The company attributes increase in income to a surge in …
Read More »Renewable energy sector in Africa will need more investment
Renewable energy will need more investment, or Africa will stay dependent on fossil fuels NEW ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics and onshore wind power can help sub-Saharan Africa meet its energy requirements from sources that have lower emissions than fossil fuels. Currently, the sub-continent …
Read More »Hydropower is a bad bargain
While hydro dams emits no greenhouse gases, reservoirs can be worse than fossil-fuel power plants COMMENT | BRAHMA CHELLANEY | The era of cheap oil and gas is over. Russia’s war in Ukraine – or, more specifically, Europe’s ambitious effort to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels at a time …
Read More »“Hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean electricity” says IEA boss
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bujagali Hydropower dam located downstream Kiira and Nalubale power dam is one of the biggest dams constructed under Private Public Partnerships(PPPs). The growth of hydropower plants worldwide is set to slow significantly this decade, putting at risk the ambitions of countries across the globe to …
Read More »Lessons from national electricity blackouts
Government has the capacity to mobilise equipment and manpower and respond quickly to emergencies COMMENT | HARRISON E. MUTIKANGA | The recent locust invasion, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, extreme hydrological events with increased precipitation and rising Lake Victoria water levels, degraded lake catchment, and the subsequent potential threats to dam …
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