A delegation from Ugandan Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) have visited the power generation site of Bui Power Authority (BPA) known as Bui Generation Station, which is located between the Bono and Savannah regions, to familiarise themselves with the operations of the company.
BPA owns, operates, and maintains the 404MW Bui hydropower plant, a 250MWp solar – hydro hybrid PV plant, a 5MWp floating plant and the 45kW Tsatsadu micro-hydropower plant.
UEGCL operates and maintains government-owned hydropower plants with a total capacity of 1480MW.
The power generation company is looking to diversify its energy sources to include solar energy into its energy mix and complete feasibility studies on the possibility of floating solar project on the reservoir of its hydropower dams, hence visiting Bui Generation Station was a perfect choice.
The delegation, which included Board Chairperson Proscovia Margaret Njuki, were conducted around the Bui Generation Station by Ing. Kweku Akosah, Director for Engineering Services Department at BPA.
The delegation were briefed first after which they visited the control room, cooling water system area, floating solar plant, and the site of the 250MWp solar plants.
Commenting on the visit, George Tusingwire Mutekweka, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at UEGCL said, “I believe we have a lot of hydro power potential here, but solar power is trying to find its footing. I think we’ve found a good partner in both land-based and floating solar systems, which I believe everyone here will agree is remarkable. The idea of starting to fabricate floaters gives us hope that we can partner and collaborate on solar power to maximise our capacity and build Uganda’s generation capacity.”
Continuing, he said, “Our government’s target is to reach 52,000 megawatts by 2040. It’s a big target, but our President says, ‘Don’t compare yourself with others; compare yourself with China and the Asian tigers. Think big.’ He knows it’s ambitious, but he believes that with hard work, we can transform Africa.
“Our population is around 45 million, and by 2050, it will be around 80 million. Most of our population is young and vibrant. To keep them engaged and avoid them risking their lives crossing the seas, we need to provide affordable power, infrastructure, and opportunities.
“Local capacity is crucial in bringing down costs and attracting investors. We want to work with you to ensure that Ugandans have enough power not just for now but for the future as well. We appreciate your presence and look forward to collaborating with you.”
On his part, Ing. Akosah said: “We’re delighted that you can join us in hospitality. Just like the tide brings seashells to the shore, we hope that your visit will bring valuable insights and ideas. We’ll treat your contributions like those seashells – we’ll collect them, store them, and showcase them when you return.
“We’re grateful for your visit and look forward to making this partnership a reality. We’ll work together to ensure that our vision is consummated well. Thank you very much.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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