Thousands of Ugandans are set to benefit from a grant by the Belgium government to help in the distribution of energy in western Uganda, if Uganda Rural Electrification Agency (UREA) inks a deal with Tiger Power, an energy company.
We have learnt that Tiger Power, a Belgian manufacturer of renewable energy solutions, has received a grant from the Belgium government for this project that is supposed to cost EURO 600, 000.
However, UREA, is yet to sign a contract allowing Tiger Power to generate the power and its role in the whole process.
“It has been a challenge to get the Ugandan Rural Electrification Agency to sign a contract stipulating the responsibility of Tiger Power to provide the power generation and to build the distribution grid by itself,” Tiger Power says on its website.
Efforts to get a comment from UREA were futile with the agencies refusing to comment on the matter.
Kyenjojo, Kyaburyezibwa, Mukiti, and Nyamicu are the communities likely to benefit from the project.
Once the deal is inked, Tiger Power will bring a number of Sunfolds and Storagers to the trading centers of Kyenjojo. The Sunfold is a fordable PV-array including a lead-crystal battery bank. Tiger Power will assist the REA for a year in training local technicians and maintaining the power plant. Afterwards, the REA will be responsible for operations.
During implementations it cooperates with the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom to conduct the feasibility study and measure the socio-economic impact of the mini-grids in the community. After installation, the mini-grids are transferred to the REA who is responsible for operation and hence price model.
This news come as the Belgium Embassy in Uganda celebrates twenty years of existence in the country. Events to celebrated the two decade milestone begin today and will end on the 21st November 2018.
Tiger Power is currently shortlisted for a tender to develop and to operate 25 mini-grids in Northern Uganda. With the Kyenjojo projects implemented and operational, Tiger Power has a proof of concept which helps winning this tender. Such a proof of concept will also allow for further large upscaling. It shows the Ugandan government that Tiger Power is engaged to invest in Uganda. Moreover, it also shows potential investors its capabilities. Finally, it shows that Tiger Power can replicate this approach in other countries.
