Govt targets 52,000 megawatts power generation by 2040

By Ben Musanje

13^th Sept 2023

The Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua has launched the Energy Policy for Uganda 2023 today, revealing the ambitious projected generation capacity of 52,000MW by 2040.

Obua, who represented the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja, underscored the importance of the new policy as a significant milestone for posterity.

The Government Chief Whip emphasized the critical role energy plays in shaping the environment and the economy.

According to Obua, Uganda’s rich mineral resources include hydropower (15,000 MW), biomass, solar (10,000 MW), geothermal (potentially 1,500 MW), peat (800MW), wind (200 MW), uranium and fossil fuels.

He noted that the Cabinet tailored the Energy Policy focusing on factors including the projected 2040 population and workforce of 73 million and 22.1 million, respectively.

The ambitious energy plan is also meant to facilitate rural electrification for inclusive growth and poverty reduction, irrigation and mechanization to boost agriculture and food security, manufacturing, mining, education and healthcare.

Meanwhile the Germany Ambassador to Uganda Matthias Schauer, has advised against plans by Uganda to invest in nuclear power plants saying it’s not only costly but environmentally sensitive.

According to the ambassador, Uganda is envied by industrial nations including Germany for its abundant hydropower and huge potential for solar power.

He said Germany shut down its nuclear power plants for fear of disasters like the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster therefore it’s not advisable for a young nation to get locked into mistakes done by the developed world.

Uganda has in the past suggested a phased approach towards putting up the first reactors for the 2000-megawatt nuclear power plant by the end of 2031 in line with Vision 2040 which identifies nuclear energy as an option for meeting the energy deficit in Uganda.

State Minister for Energy, Sidronius Okaasi Opolot said Uganda will continue to pursue nuclear for electricity as part of the pursuit of clean and sustainable energy sources.

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