Page 14 - AfrElec Week 30 2022

AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec

Uganda, Dutch group launch

biodigest project to boost

renewable energy output

UGANDA UGANDA and the Dutch government and other Uganda’s electricity demand is forecasted to
partners have launched the Africa Biodigester grow to 2,000MW by 2025, more than triple its
Component (ABC), a project that aims to boost 2018 level of 600MW, largely attributed to house-
access to biodigesters for circular agriculture and holds being electrified for the first time, in line
renewable energy in the East African country. with the government target of 98% electrifica-
The three-year project, implemented by tion by 2030. Installed capacity is expected to
Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Devel- quadruple from current levels to around 4,200
opment and the Netherlands Development MW by 2030.
Organization (SNV), will run until 2025. It tar- The ABC project will be implemented as a
gets the installation of at least 8,000 small-scale joint effort by a consortium of SNV, the German
biodigesters across Uganda, providing energy Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
access for at least 40,000 people. and Biogas Solution Uganda Limited (BSUL)
Speaking during the launch in Entebbe, SNV in co-development support of the Netherlands
Uganda Country Director Phomolo Maphosa Enterprise Agency (RVO).
said the energy sector is still dominated by solid SNV, as lead implementer, takes responsibil-
biomass, mainly firewood and charcoal, which ity for overall project management and stake-
contributes 88.6% of the country’s consumable holder coordination and in cooperation with
energy. BSUL, for further strengthening the sector’s
“Biodigesters offer increased benefits in the demand and supply. GIZ’s vast experience will
form of clean energy for cooking, and organic be used to support key sector actors to improve
fertilisers for agricultural production, which will the enabling environment for the biodigester
mitigate against the effects of deforestation and sub-sector in Uganda.™
soil degradation,” she said.

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 28•July•2022