10 MW Solar Power Plant to Boost Uganda’s National Grid

The Energy ministry in partnership with Access Uganda Solar Limited has launched a 10MW solar power plant in Soroti District, aimed at increasing power access in the eastern district.

The power produced from the $19m solar power plant is expected to be added to the national grid in July and will power 40,000 homes and businesses in an area where electricity access is still very low.

The power plant earlier on during its setup in Soroti district.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the State minister for Mineral Development Peter Lokeris said Uganda still faces energy challenges and yet industrialization that the government seeks to expand requires more energy and investment.

“Government priorities such as Agro-processing can only get lifted off the ground with sufficient and reliable energy. I have confidence in the project because our country enjoys an all year round sunny climate which is the resource for solar power,” Mr Lokeris said in a statement.

The project will also avail clean water to the surrounding communities by constructing two boreholes, six houses for teachers and provide solar power panels to public primary schools. Two thousand tree seedlings of orange, mango and pine will also be given to the neighboring communities as part of the afforestation programme to conserve the environment.

Mr. Reda El Chaar, the executive chairman, Access Power, said African governments need to be supported to avail power to their populations. He added that because of the need for power, the continent has attracted a $25b investment in renewables in the past six years.

The Soroti project is the first solar power plant to be successfully developed under the GET FiT scheme, in partnership with the government of Uganda through the Electricity Regulatory Agency.The project is funded by the European Union Infrastructure Trust Fund, and supported by the governments of Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.