The Government of Uganda and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC-Masdar have signed a landmark agreement for the construction of the 150 MW solar power plant in a move towards renewable energy development.
The fundamental agreement was signed by Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, on behalf of the Government of Uganda, and Abdulla Zayed, Masdar’s Head of Development Investment (Africa), at the UN Climate Change 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, on November 4, 2023, as part of a broader 1GW collaboration, marking a significant step in Uganda’s sustainable energy journey.
Robinah Nabbanja, Uganda’s Prime Minister, witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of Okello Oryem, the Minister of State Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs, and Zaake Kibeedi, Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE.
Nabbanja said that the construction of the solar power plant will increase access to electricity and contribute to socioeconomic development in Uganda.
“This transformative initiative not only addresses our escalating electricity demand but also enhances electricity accessibility and generates employment opportunities for Ugandans,” Nabbanja added.
Nankabirwa emphasised the need for a network stability study to ensure the project’s seamless integration without harming the existing network.
She also thanked Masdar and the United Arab Emirates government for their strategic partnership and commended the Ugandan government for creating an environment conducive to investment and sustainable development.
Zayed affirmed its readiness to fund this crucial aspect of the project.
“We’re committed to bringing the most technically proficient independent companies by April 2024 to conduct the grid stability studies. These studies, which we have conducted before, will benefit other electricity projects in Uganda,” Zayed said.
In August 2022, the governments of Uganda and Masdar signed a Memorandum of Understanding where they agreed to develop greenfield renewable energy projects totaling 1 GW, a commitment that aligns with Uganda’s strategy to capitalise on its abundant renewable energy resources for sustainable industrialization.