Geza Ulole
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While Uganda has built several hydropower stations to support her electrified SGR
4 JANUARY 2018
The East African (Nairobi)
Uganda Bets On SGR for Higher Power Demand
By Halima Abdallah
Uganda's investment in additional electricity generation is raising concerns in view of the low domestic consumption and the country's competitiveness in power trade.
Uganda has an installed capacity of 921MW, and already exports electricity.
Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd CEO Harrison Mutikanga said proposed heavy consumers like the new railway and a phosphate factory will require increased power. It is estimated that the two projects will consume a total of 500MW.
By December 2018, Uganda expects to generate an additional 600MW from Karuma dam and 183MW from Isimba dam. The country plans to generate 2,500MW by 2020, and 4,800MW by 2030.
Access to electricity is at 22 per cent of the population, each with per capita consumption of 150kWh, making it one of the lowest rates among least developed countries.
Meanwhile, countries in the region are also enhancing their electricity generation potential.
Ethiopia's 6,000MW Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile promises to generate enough power to be exported, especially to Djibouti that bought Treasury bonds to fund the dam.
In Kenya, there are prospects for geothermal power generation.
"This means that in Uganda we must be efficient to be competitive," said Eng Mutikanga.
Documents from the sector regulator Electricity Regulatory Authority show that it has licensed 29 electricity generation projects that are at different stages of implementation.
Twenty-four of them are hydro, three are biomass projects, one is wind and one is solar. Together, the renewable energy sources have the capacity to produce 615 MW.
Under the regional interconnections programme, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) is undertaking projects intended to promote power trade and improve security of supply.
These include the construction of a 400Kv line covering 190km from Karuma to Juba, for which UETCL is sourcing funding. Another 220Kv line from Masaka in Uganda to Mwanza in Tanzania, funded by the EAC, is expected to be ready in 2019.
Transmission lines have also been planned from Mpondwe in Uganda to Beni in DRC for a 220kv line. The Norwegian government is funding the feasibility study.
"Under the East African power pool, we will sell about 250MW," said Eng Mutikanga.
Uganda Bets On SGR for Higher Power Demand
After promising this in November 2017
On flimsy excuses n after many lies, Kenya has just announced this
Kenya drops bid for electric SGR trains
FRIDAY JANUARY 26 2018
Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina. FILE PHOTO | NMG
In Summary
By BUSINESS DAILY
More by this Author
Kenya has dropped plans for electrification of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line between Mombasa and Nairobi, citing its high costs and irregular power supply.
Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said on Thursday preliminary research had shown inadequate demand for electric trains in Kenya.
The government had earlier planned a Ksh49 billion ($480m) electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.
“Electrifying this line also depends on our ability as a country to finance that kind of infrastructure,” said Mr Maina.
“It was something that we would love to have, however, the country does not have a dependable source of electricity.”
While the frequency and severity of outages in Kenya have fallen over the years, many firms still run stand-by generators to cope with any supply interruptions.
China Road and Bridge Corporation, which was appointed to build the Mombasa-Nairobi line, will be offered 15 per cent over the current construction costs of Ksh327 billion ($3.2bn) or Ksh49.05 billion ($480m) more to upgrade the line.
An electric track was needed for fast movement of bigger containers and passengers in the quest to boost East Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
The faster SGR railway, which was built in two-and-half years, started passenger services mid last year and commercial cargo services this month.
The design of the SGR rail line — which is currently run by diesel-powered locomotives — allows for the addition of a single electric line.
On Thursday, Mr Maina said in a TV interview that demand for electric train does not exist in Kenya at the moment.
He argued that electrifying the line would enhance the speed of the railway, but could not take Kenya to speeds of up to 250km per hour seen in developed nations such as China, Germany and UK.
“Those trains are designed for passenger movement in countries where the focus is to move millions of people. I do not think the demand exists in this country now,” he said.
Kenya drops bid for electric SGR trains
MY TAKE
If it can be precisely remembered; immediately after Museveni's visit to Kenya he dispatched a special envoy Mr Sam Kutesa to Tanzania. From the turn of events it seems Uhuru communicated this news to Museveni n I am pretty sure the Naivasha-Malaba connection is dead.
4 JANUARY 2018
The East African (Nairobi)
Uganda Bets On SGR for Higher Power Demand
By Halima Abdallah
Uganda's investment in additional electricity generation is raising concerns in view of the low domestic consumption and the country's competitiveness in power trade.
Uganda has an installed capacity of 921MW, and already exports electricity.
Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd CEO Harrison Mutikanga said proposed heavy consumers like the new railway and a phosphate factory will require increased power. It is estimated that the two projects will consume a total of 500MW.
By December 2018, Uganda expects to generate an additional 600MW from Karuma dam and 183MW from Isimba dam. The country plans to generate 2,500MW by 2020, and 4,800MW by 2030.
Access to electricity is at 22 per cent of the population, each with per capita consumption of 150kWh, making it one of the lowest rates among least developed countries.
Meanwhile, countries in the region are also enhancing their electricity generation potential.
Ethiopia's 6,000MW Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile promises to generate enough power to be exported, especially to Djibouti that bought Treasury bonds to fund the dam.
In Kenya, there are prospects for geothermal power generation.
"This means that in Uganda we must be efficient to be competitive," said Eng Mutikanga.
Documents from the sector regulator Electricity Regulatory Authority show that it has licensed 29 electricity generation projects that are at different stages of implementation.
Twenty-four of them are hydro, three are biomass projects, one is wind and one is solar. Together, the renewable energy sources have the capacity to produce 615 MW.
Under the regional interconnections programme, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) is undertaking projects intended to promote power trade and improve security of supply.
These include the construction of a 400Kv line covering 190km from Karuma to Juba, for which UETCL is sourcing funding. Another 220Kv line from Masaka in Uganda to Mwanza in Tanzania, funded by the EAC, is expected to be ready in 2019.
Transmission lines have also been planned from Mpondwe in Uganda to Beni in DRC for a 220kv line. The Norwegian government is funding the feasibility study.
"Under the East African power pool, we will sell about 250MW," said Eng Mutikanga.
Uganda Bets On SGR for Higher Power Demand
After promising this in November 2017
On flimsy excuses n after many lies, Kenya has just announced this
Kenya drops bid for electric SGR trains
FRIDAY JANUARY 26 2018
Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina. FILE PHOTO | NMG
In Summary
- Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said on Thursday preliminary research had shown inadequate demand for electric trains in Kenya.
- The government had earlier planned a $480 million electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.
- An electric track was needed for fast movement of bigger containers and passengers in the quest to boost East Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
By BUSINESS DAILY
More by this Author
Kenya has dropped plans for electrification of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line between Mombasa and Nairobi, citing its high costs and irregular power supply.
Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said on Thursday preliminary research had shown inadequate demand for electric trains in Kenya.
The government had earlier planned a Ksh49 billion ($480m) electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.
“Electrifying this line also depends on our ability as a country to finance that kind of infrastructure,” said Mr Maina.
“It was something that we would love to have, however, the country does not have a dependable source of electricity.”
While the frequency and severity of outages in Kenya have fallen over the years, many firms still run stand-by generators to cope with any supply interruptions.
China Road and Bridge Corporation, which was appointed to build the Mombasa-Nairobi line, will be offered 15 per cent over the current construction costs of Ksh327 billion ($3.2bn) or Ksh49.05 billion ($480m) more to upgrade the line.
An electric track was needed for fast movement of bigger containers and passengers in the quest to boost East Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
The faster SGR railway, which was built in two-and-half years, started passenger services mid last year and commercial cargo services this month.
The design of the SGR rail line — which is currently run by diesel-powered locomotives — allows for the addition of a single electric line.
On Thursday, Mr Maina said in a TV interview that demand for electric train does not exist in Kenya at the moment.
He argued that electrifying the line would enhance the speed of the railway, but could not take Kenya to speeds of up to 250km per hour seen in developed nations such as China, Germany and UK.
“Those trains are designed for passenger movement in countries where the focus is to move millions of people. I do not think the demand exists in this country now,” he said.
Kenya drops bid for electric SGR trains
MY TAKE
If it can be precisely remembered; immediately after Museveni's visit to Kenya he dispatched a special envoy Mr Sam Kutesa to Tanzania. From the turn of events it seems Uhuru communicated this news to Museveni n I am pretty sure the Naivasha-Malaba connection is dead.