Uganda to produce more power
By Ben Okiror, The New Vision [Uganda], Thursday, 30th October, 2008
UGANDA will be 450 megawatts richer in power if its geo-thermal sites are fully developed, the permanent secretary in the energy ministry has said.
Addressing participants at an energy workshop held on Monday at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala, Kabagambe-Kaliisa said the Government, with the support of development agencies, was carrying out studies of geothermal prospects in Katwe in Kasese district, Buranga in Bundibugyo district and Kibiro in Hoima district.
Other geo-thermal areas where preliminary surveys have been done include south-western Uganda, West Nile, Amuru and Kaabong districts in northern Uganda, he said.
Experts who explored Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro areas attended the workshop.
Presenting the results from Buranga, Prof. Peter Kehrer, the sub-division head of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, said the site had 37 hot springs that had a maximum temperature of 98.3 degrees Celsius.
He said the bilateral technical co-operation between Uganda and Germany would make more resources available and ensure a longer presence of German experts in Uganda.
Godfrey Bahati, the coordinator of the Geothermal Project at the energy ministry, said investment in geothermal energy is cost-effective in the long run, since it is environment-friendly and is not affected by climatic fluctuations like hydropower energy.
UGANDA will be 450 megawatts richer in power if its geo-thermal sites are fully developed, the permanent secretary in the energy ministry has said.
Addressing participants at an energy workshop held on Monday at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala, Kabagambe-Kaliisa said the Government, with the support of development agencies, was carrying out studies of geothermal prospects in Katwe in Kasese district, Buranga in Bundibugyo district and Kibiro in Hoima district.
Other geo-thermal areas where preliminary surveys have been done include south-western Uganda, West Nile, Amuru and Kaabong districts in northern Uganda, he said.
Experts who explored Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro areas attended the workshop.
Presenting the results from Buranga, Prof. Peter Kehrer, the sub-division head of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, said the site had 37 hot springs that had a maximum temperature of 98.3 degrees Celsius.
He said the bilateral technical co-operation between Uganda and Germany would make more resources available and ensure a longer presence of German experts in Uganda.
Godfrey Bahati, the coordinator of the Geothermal Project at the energy ministry, said investment in geothermal energy is cost-effective in the long run, since it is environment-friendly and is not affected by climatic fluctuations like hydropower energy.