News & Documentation

In the past months Royal Haskoning has identified, initiated and arranged the financing for the "Western Uganda mini-hydropower & Rural Electrification Project". The design & development phase is kicking off soon. The contractor who will construct the facilities will eventually be selected by a tender process. The project is financed by a 12 million Euro Dutch ORIO subsidy, the Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (13 million) and private investors (7 million) by means of a PPP construction during the operational phase. 

Large Potential for renewable energy in Uganda
Uganda has an overall lack of energy; fossil fuels have to be transported over great distances by tanker truck over poor roads. In rural areas of Uganda less than 6% of the population is connected to the electrical grid. However, there is a large unused potential to develop renewable energy such as solar and hydro-electric power. The potential renewable energy in Uganda is estimated 5,300 megawatts, consisting of 2,000 megawatts generated by large dams on the Nile, 200 megawatts on mini-hydro plants (< 1.5 megawatts) and the remainder being solar, biomass, geothermal and peat.  

Mini-hydropower
Small scale hydropower (less than 2 megawatts) is currently a rapidly developing technology worldwide and in contrast to large hydropower projects, mainly driven by private initiatives, often supported by the public sector. The advantages are less upfront capital investments, less environmental impacts, shorter permitting procedures, lower electricity transmission costs and decentralization. Remote and isolated villages can be provided with a mini-grid.  

Royal Haskoning currently is involved in similar initiatives in Rwanda, Ukraine, Europe and Indonesia.