16 August 2007
editorial
Kampala — ENERGY generation company, Sesam Energetics is getting little cooperation in setting up their 33MW power plant.
The plant, which will use garbage to fire its turbines, will be a double boon for Kampala. Not only will it alleviate the power problem, but will also provide a sustainable solution to our garbage disposal issues.
According to reports, Sesam is trying to circumvent the rigid conditions laid on renewable energy generators and negotiate a more flexible Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Government in order to feed their power into the national grid.
They argue that their generation capacity higher than the stipulated 20 MW for such projects, warrants them special exemption and operating under the terms of government's renewable energy policy would make their project unviable.
So in order to negotiate a PPA, either the President or Parliament needs to waive the renewable energy stipulations holding back the project. Attempts to present their case to the President have borne no fruit and they are reluctant to go through Parliament because the process will take too long.
Uganda is labouring under the persistent loadshedding that is affecting productivity and lowering our competitiveness as a nation. In addition to lack of power, the temporary thermal generation solution means we have the most expensive power in the region adding further to our uncompetitiveness.
It, therefore, boggles the mind that these entrepreneurs are being given the run around by our bureaucrats.
The responsible bureaucrats are clearly out of step with the needs of this nation, their lack of urgency in getting this issue addressed is very disheartening. Of course a less charitable view would be that they are delaying the process deliberately in the hope of squeezing something out of these investors.
Somebody needs to light a fire under the concerned officials and see that this project is expedited. National interests should not come second to office politics or the desire for self enrichment.
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