Thursday, April 25

Energy

Uganda National Oil Company
  • The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is directly importing petroleum products from Vitol Bahrain, aiming to reduce reliance on Kenyan firms and mitigate high fuel prices. 
  • UNOC’s direct importation and sale of fuel to OMCs in Tanzania and Uganda is a significant step towards fostering stronger regional ties, promoting economic growth, and ensuring energy security. 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has started the sale of petroleum products to oil marketing companies in both Uganda and Tanzania.

This is part of a broader strategy to test the waters before UNOC embarks on a direct importation agreement with the global oil titan, Vitol Bahrain. This maneuver signals a new era in East Africa’s energy dynamics, especially following a cooling of relations between Uganda and Kenya over fuel supply mechanisms.

Breaking New Ground: Uganda National Oil Company Direct Importation Deal

For years, Uganda’s fuel supply chain was heavily dependent on Kenyan OMCs. However, …

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Green Giant project
  • The joint development of the Green Giant Project will expedite the construction of the first 200MW phase of the investment.
  • Mini-grids account for more than half of all new connections in DRC.
  • The agreement represents a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between SkyPower, AFC, and the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and SkyPower Global have entered into a joint development agreement for the first phase of SkyPower’s Green Giant project in the mineral-rich country.

The move is meant to promote the use of renewable energy in the Eastern African state. This 200MW Phase one is a crucial step towards achieving the landmark 1,000MW Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between SkyPower and the DRC’s state-owned utility, Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL).

The partnership brings together SkyPower’s extensive experience in developing large-scale solar projects and AFC’s successful track record of de-risking and funding well-structured power …

IAEA-&-Uganda
  • Uganda signed a deal with China under which the China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC) would assist its endeavours to tap into one of the few Nuclear energy sources in Africa.
  • The first nuclear project, Buyende Nuclear Power Plant, will be located in Buyende, approximately 150 km(93 miles) north of Kampala.
  • Uganda has an estimated 52000 square kilometres of uranium deposits around Buganda, Toro, Ankle and Bunyoro.

Africa takes the next step in its evolution as Uganda announced its plans to generate at least 1000 MegaWatts(MW) from its nuclear power plant by 2031. This lines up with its efforts to identify alternative energy solutions that guarantee faster and more efficient electricity production. Uganda will become one of the few countries to produce nuclear energy in Africa, further boosting its economic growth exponentially.

Uganda first discovered its uranium deposits in 2004, and since then, nuclear power became a valid option for the country.

The Garissa solar farm. The farm is producing cleanand renewable energy for the Kenyan county. www.theexchange.africa

Africa’s post-Covid-19 growth recovery and economic prosperity are dependent on renewable energy which will be a critical driver. 

According to International Energy Agency data, scaling up Africa’s capacity to achieve universal access to energy by 2030 would require over US$100 billion per year. Of this amount, 40 per cent would be dedicated to solar, wind, and other low-carbon power generation projects. 

There are a number of initiatives meant to accelerate electrification on the continent among which is the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s New Deal on Energy for Africa which is a transformative partnership-based strategy that aims to increase access to energy for all Africans.…

Addressing the increasing energy demand in Kenya
Kenya’s significant energy demand falls short with the lack of stagnated supply as current generation is insufficient with the burst of industrial and domestic needs, a recent research has said.  

The study by the African Development Bank (AfDB) shows that the country is currently experiencing inadequate electricity generation capacity. Kenya is also grappling with high-power bills. This situation has therefore pushed the government to scout for alternative ways of resolving these problems.  

Currently more than 39 per cent of Kenya’s electricity comes from hydropower according to the 2015 data by the government. The situation is particularly difficult during the summer months when water levels are low. Capacity gaps are then compensated by expensive thermal generation based on fossil fuels.  

In Kenya currently according to Global Petrol Prices, the price of electricity stands at $0.206 per kWh for households and $0.164 for businesses. This price includes all components

East African Data Centres rolls out $1.2Million solar investment

East Africa Data Centre (EADC) Asset Company has finalized a $1.2Million investment in design, installation, and maintenance of commercial and industrial solar systems conducted jointly with Distributed Power Africa (DPA) and Mettle Solar.

EADC is a subsidiary of Liquid Telecom and is Kenya as well as Africa’s first and largest network of an interconnected, carrier, and cloud-neutral data center facilities. It is part of Africa Data Centres, a chain of data centers spread across Africa with hubs in Johannesburg, Kigali, Nairobi and Harare.

DPA AND Mettle Solar’s partnership seeks to provide solutions to industries in Africa looking to meet their technical and financial challenges while investing in renewable energy. The solar plant will enable EADC to significantly lower their overall energy costs whilst at the same time reducing their carbon footprint.

“We are excited to have a DFI-backed company like Mettle, as a co-investor alongside DPA. With sub-Sahara Africa experiencing …

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