Page 7 - AfrElec Week 12 2023

AfrElec INVESTMENT AfrElec

Uganda to invest $9bn in NPP

UGANDA UGANDA is set to invest a staggering $9bn in
a 2,000 MW nuclear power plant (NPP), a pro-
ject that will be implemented by Korea Hydro
and Nuclear Power Company (KHNP), a state-
owned company.
This comes after the East African nation
signed a memorandum of understanding with
KHNP for the construction of the plant in
Buyende District, eastern Uganda. The plant is
expected to be completed in 2031.
President Yoweri Museveni said the nuclear
plant will be critical in providing a reliable and
sustainable power supply, as Uganda’s hydro, bio- Uganda has settled on state-owned KHNP
mass, geothermal and other power sources have owing to its nuclear technological capabilities,
been fully harnessed and cannot meet energy specifically the APR1400, a Korea-developed
needs estimated at 10,000 MW. nuclear reactor with a capacity of 1,400 MW.
“The nuclear project comes at a critical time In Africa, KHNP is involved in the construc-
when nations are dealing with how to ensure tion project of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant
energy security for social economic develop- in Egypt in collaboration with Russia’s ASE JSC.
ment,” Museveni said. “Uganda has abundant In Uganda, the government in 2019 con-
power resources distributed in different parts cluded feasibility studies needed in the incor-
of the country but there is a need for more part- poration of nuclear power in the electricity
nerships to explore the new technologies in the generation mix and is committed to enhancing
sector.” the legal and institutional framework.
Museveni was speaking at the Africa Nuclear The country has also been building human
Business Platform 2023 (AFNBP 2023) summit capacity with at least 20 Ugandans having grad-
being held in Kampala with the objective of tak- uated in the nuclear energy sector from coun-
ing stock of Africa’s ambitions to include nuclear tries such as the UK, South Korea, Russia and
energy in the power generation mix. China.™

Malawi secures $20mn from World Bank

for off-grid solar systems

MALAWI MALAWI has launched a $20mn, World Bank- companies grow to the extent of being able to
funded project to build off-grid solar systems access capital on the market for the expansion of
for 200,000 rural clients in the country by 2024. their business [and] at the same time make elec-
Nyasa Times reported on March 13 that the tricity accessible in rural areas,” he said.
market-development fund, named Ngwe Ngwe Furthermore, the fund will create a market
Ngwe, could help drive the national electricity catalyst fund of $500,000 to support small-scale
coverage rate to 23%, from the current 18%. off-grid market-based transformative solutions
The fund will provide loans to eligible off- to scale up the renewable energy transition.
grid solar companies up to $14mn as working World Bank country manager Hugh Ridell
capital to expand the operations and speed up noted that the private sector would use the facil-
procurement, importation and make installation ity to create more jobs in the energy-deficient
of solar home systems that will be sold to rural southcentral African country.
Malawians at an affordable price. According to Power Africa, a US initiative
Speaking at the launch on March 10, the Min- that invests in electricity projects in Africa, Mala-
ister of Energy Ibrahim Matola said the fund will wi’s installed capacity is 532MW, 372MW of
also give $5.5mn to provide end-users with sub- which is hydro-based. However, frequent break-
sidies to close the affordability gap of rural cus- downs and droughts often disrupt energy secu-
tomers that cannot afford solar home systems at rity forcing the power utility to ration electricity
the current commercial prices. for as long as 18 hours daily. Demand averaged
“The idea is to make these local off-grid solar 618MW in 2022, according to official data.™

Week 12 22•March•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P7