Uganda is currently producing more electricity than it can consume, Energy and Mineral Development minister Irene Muloni has said.
Muloni called for the construction of more industries to consume the excess power because the country is actually paying for the unconsumed electricity.
"The sector is doing great; more energy is produced now but we need to have more industries to consume this power that is produced. The problem we have now is producing a lot of power and not consumed which leads us to pay for the excess energy produced," Muloni said.
Muloni was speaking at the ministry's joint review to assess the progress of the ministry. Only 26.7% of the country's population has access to electricity according to the 2016 figures by the World Bank.
According to the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), by the end of 2017, Uganda had 21 power generation plants connected to the national grid - generating nearly 1,000GWh (988.4GWh in the last quarter). Less than 700GWh is consumed. With the completion of Isimba and Karuma power dams, even more power is expected to be generated.
8% of the purchased electricity is sold to neighboring countries - Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and DRC. However local consumers claim the power tariffs are too high - the reason for the low penetration.
Other than excess power, Muloni pointed out the issue of land acquisition where land owners want to be compensated a lot of money hence delaying projects as another of the ministry's major challenges.
On the efforts to extend power to all parts of the country, the minister said the districts of Kaabong, Buvuma and Kotido are the only ones yet to be reached. She assured people in these areas that sooner than later, they will also be connected to the national grid.
At the same sector review, Gen Moses Ali, the first deputy prime minister and deputy leader of government business in parliament said there is need to develop the energy sector following international standards so that the country achieves the middle income status by 2020.
bakerbatte@observer.ug
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