Eskom Uganda, a key player in Uganda’s hydro power electricity generation is leading a concerted effort towards saving Energy with the aim of leading Uganda into much anticipated middle income Economy.
This was revealed by the Company’s Managing Director, Thozama Gangi in a presentation made on her behalf by Mohamed Mahsen Eskom Uganda’s Technical Director at a Symposium organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to mark this year’s Energy week at Imperial Royal Hotel.
With renewed mandate, President Museveni has repeatedly reiterated government’s plan to undertake multi-pronged investment push aimed to propel the country into a middle income status by 2020 and Eskom believes this can be achieved by among others saving energy to have more supply than demand.
This year, Eskom, currently Uganda’s main hydro power electricity generating company, partnered with the ministry of Energy and mineral development for the annual Energy week, which was started by the ministry to facilitate the exchange of ideas and discussions through exhibitions of different energy saving technologies and services by different suppliers, NGOs and government agencies, currently going on at Logogo.
During the Energy week, Eskom mainly focused on creating awareness on Uganda’s potential of Electricity power and the Demand Side Management. According to Thozama, Demand side Management is basically a science of managing load on the national grid and the consumption patterns of the available electricity and in essence improve available generation capacity.
Thozama noted that this involves managing and controlling electricity use through activities or programs that promote more efficient management of electric energy loads.
“Energy Efficiency is an initiative aimed at ensuring economical utilization of energy in all sectors of the economy, including industries, commercial buildings, institutions, households, transport and agriculture. We at Eskom are exploring all possible means for equitable energy dispensation and utilisation” She said.
According to Thozama, Eskom provides an energy advisory service regarding energy efficiency and is making it easier for domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural energy users to invest in energy saving technologies
She further told stakeholders that Eskom initiated a Demand Side Management for homes in 2009 with the objective of achieving 15% energy reduction of its non-essential load against the baseline in that year. Now they are happy to report that 27% reduction has been achieved.
“Uganda power system demand is about 550MW at peak time and Government has licensed generation capacity of about 855MW. Large hydro companies produce 73.7% (380 and 250 = 630MW), Mini hydro companies; 7.7% (65.5MW), Thermal; 11.7%, while Cogeneration bagasse – 7.0%” she revealed.
Eskom Uganda Ltd (EUL) is the main hydro power electricity generating company in Uganda and the current average production is 175MW per day. All the electricity generated is sold to Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) the authorized single buyer, who sells it to the sole distributor UMEME who in turn distributes it to the local consumers throughout the country.
Eskom Uganda was incorporated on 22nd November 2002, and was awarded a concession to operate and maintain Nalubaale and Kiira Hydro Power stations in Jinja for 20 years. It took over operations and maintenance of the complex from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) on 1st April 2003.
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