In Uganda, Mayuge Sugar Industries Limited will start, three months from now, the construction of a 23 MW biomass power plant. Production which should begin in 2018 will represent about 2.6% of national power output. The plant will generate 20,000 jobs and will be running on 10,000 tons of sugar cane waste. The project costs $53.6 million and 65% of the amount will be raised through loans while 35% remaining will be provided by the company’s shareholders.

Power produced will be sold to the Ugandan Electricity Transmission Company Limited at $0.095 per kWh. “We invite all power producers to come get a licence and start their activities”, said Benon Mutambi, executive director of power regulatory authority.

Uganda is one of Africa’s few countries where supply in power exceeds demand. However, less than 20% of the country has access to electricity due to the lack of infrastructure to transport energy and also to the high cost associated to buying power from independent producers.

Gwladys Johnson