Page 15 - EPSI Magazine Issue 8 final 2018.indd

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EPSI: You also earlier mentioned solar
energy as an area Umeme might con-
sider. This is just one of the many exam-
ples of green energy, and there seems to
be a boom in the green energy markets
here in Uganda. What is the plan when it
comes to UMEME regarding these green

energy resources?

For us, we see it as a compliment. If you look
at the country now, our grid connections reach
around 22% of the population. There is a 78%
to reach and so it may take more years to reach
every corner of the country using the traditional
methods. So, we need some solutions beyond on
grid expansion/ and connections and grid inten-
sification. For those that are very far off from the
grid to go for mini grids. But for those that are in
sparsely populated areas because of the nature of
our building traditions population; households are
sparsely populated, they can go for these green
energies as a compliment. In fact, the fundamental
questions, we should be asking is ‘do people want But, hearing the Minister say they want to cre-
energy?’ yes. ‘When do they want it?’ often now. ate one holding company that will integrate REA,
The question is how do we get it to them now? So, UEDCL, UETCL and UEGCL. We believe that the
it is something we are also looking at critically to holding company will have a number of depart-
move beyond the grid. ments that provide those exact services that these
companies do. So instead of having four or five
EPSI: There is talk of the mergers of gov- CEOs, you have one CEO, one board, still able to ex-
ernment agencies such as Uganda Elec- ecute the mandate of the sector fully.
tricity Distribution Company Limited However, you can see that this has far reach-
(UEDCL), Uganda Electricity Transmis- ing implications; especially on signed agreements
sion Company Limited (UETCL), Rural with all these parties and their projects which still
Electrification Agency (REA) and Uganda need to be implemented. We believe that govern-
Electricity Generation Company Limited ment will go through a systematic process to go
(UEGCL). What is your take on this pro- through that process of mergers so that we do not

posal by the policy makers of the coun- lose the benefits that have accrued over the years.
But one emphasis the Minister made is that the
try given Uganda’s history? government policy is still to maintain private sec-
tor driven power distribution while also allowing
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Develop- the Private Sector to participate in generation but
ment talked about it. The matter is that they are also having an independent regulator.
trying to optimise government operations and I
think it is too early to understand what the merg- So, for us in the Energy Sector, I am not ex-
ers mean for the country. I believe government will pecting a massive kind of disruption, but just some
look at so many things; legal, operational, techni- integration while maintaining the core functions
cal and financial implications before any final deci- under one holding company.
sion is made.