Information for prospective investors to the Pacilo Tar Project
ENERGY SECTOR INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
Uganda’s installed capacity of around 1,000 MW exceeded its peak demand by more than 400 MW in 2018. Despite this, less than a quarter of the population has access to electricity while in rural areas this figure is as low as 11%. With 7.6 million households remaining unelectrified, annual per capita electricity consumption is very low at around 80 kWh, or about 20% of the average in sub-Saharan Africa. Tariffs for low-voltage users are on average €0.13/kWh, and about half that for medium- and high voltage connections.
Peak electricity demand is forecasted to grow to 2,000 MW by 2025, more than triple its 2018 level of 600 MW. A significant portion of growth could be attributed to households being electrified for the first time, in line with the government target of 98% electrification by 2030. Installed capacity is expected to quadruple from current levels to around 4,200 MW by 2030.
Ambitious reforms were initiated in the Ugandan energy sector in the late 1990s. The sector is fully unbundled, however the majority of generation, transmission and distribution assets remain state-owned, while the operation and maintenance functions of the facilities have been concessioned to private companies. IPPs comprise the majority of generation in the country. Distributors include UMEME Ltd, a single, major privately owned company servicing about a million people, and several smaller operators, both on- and off-grid.
In 2018 about a quarter of Uganda’s generation capacity came from renewable sources comprising solar, small hydro and biomass. In 2019, the Kabulasoke 24 MW solar project was completed by a consortium of private developers. In 2020, the government of Uganda signed agreements with an IPP for plans to build two wind and two solar projects with a combined capacity of 220 MW, commencing in 2021.
STRUCTURE
Uganda was one of the first African countries to offer private concessions for generation and distribution components of the electricity supply sector. The country has considerable experience with energy sector reform, in particular by increasing private sector participation through competitive bidding processes.
The energy sector was fully unbundled by 2005. Ownership of generation, transmission and distribution assets was retained by the state under respective entities, while operation and maintenance of facilities were outsourced to private companies through concession agreements. Among these dedicated state-owned entities only the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL) holds a monopoly. The UETCL owns and oversees all medium and high voltage transmission infrastructure and functions as the system operator, dispatcher and buyer of all grid electricity in the country. As sole buyer, it is signatory to all PPAs in the country. Distribution is largely the responsibility of UMEME. Small-scale distributors and isolated grid concessionaires are also active in electricity distribution.
On the generation front, Uganda is home to the 250 MW Bujagali hydro IPP project, one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, its 50 MW Tororo-Electro-Maxx thermal plant is often considered one of the first indigenous African IPPs, financed, built and operated solely by African companies. Several smaller and medium sized plants have been built or are under development by IPPs, comprising the majority of generation capacity in the country.
Looking ahead, the Ugandan government has taken a two-pronged approach to procuring generation capacity. For large scale projects, competitive bidding has been largely replaced with direct awards for international contractors likely due to costly and time-consuming processes of the former. For small and medium scale projects, policies are more supportive of competitive bidding. The Global Energy Transfer Feed in Tariff (GET FiT) programme and the Promotion of Mini-Grids for Rural Electrification (Pro Mini-Grids) are examples.
Generation:
The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) manages electricity generation. It presides over ESKOM Uganda, a generation company. Several IPPs also operate generation infrastructure.
Transmission:
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) manages all electricity transmission infrastructure in Uganda. In 2018, UETCL presided over 150km of 220kV lines, 1443km of 132kV lines, 35km of 66kV lines and 20 substations.
Distribution:
Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) manages electricity distribution in Uganda, via a 20 year concession with UMEME. UMEME is thus the major privately owned electricity distributor in Uganda. By the end of 2018, UMEME operated 33,146km of distribution grids and 12,523 distribution transformers.
Ugandan Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) is the state-owned generation company. Its main roles are to oversee the performance of ESKOM Uganda and its own power plants, to negotiate and administer engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for government projects and IPPs and to supervise the operations and maintenance of mid-tier public projects.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) is the state owned transmission company. UETCL is also the authorised single buyer of electricity from UEGCL and IPPs, who then sells to UMEME. UETCL has a monopoly on the operation of all Uganda's transmission infrastructure. It also functions as the system operator and bulk single buyer of almost all electricity generated in Uganda.
Ugandan Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is Uganda's holding company for state-owned distribution assets and it both administers and supervises the private distribution concession agreement (presently held by UMEME).
Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the secretariat for the Rural Electrification Board (REB), tasked with implementing Uganda’s Indicative Rural Electrification Master Plan (IREMP), implementing government rural electrification projects, and managing associated funds. It is involved with grid extension, independent grids and off-grid electrification. There are indications that REA will be integrated into the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) in the future and cease to exist independently.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) is responsible for formulating policies, implementing legislation, and inspecting, regulating, monitoring and evaluating the energy sector overall.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)'s main responsibility is setting cost-reflective electricity tariffs. ERA also defines and monitors technical standards within the sector and enforces adherence to the National Grid Code. It issues and monitors the licences required to generate, transmit, and distribute power. The regulator sets and reviews feed-in tariffs for renewable energy (REFiT) generation projects between 1 and 20 MW.
Eskom Uganda Ltd. is a subsidiary of South Africa's Eskom Holdings. In 2003, Eskom Uganda was awarded a 20-year concession for the operation and maintenance of UEGCL's hydropower plants.
UMEME Ltd is a private company with a 20-year concession to distribute and retail electricity in Uganda. UMEME buys in bulk from UETCL and on-sells to retail customers. It is responsible for 97% of electricity distribution in the country.
The West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) is a generation and distribution company operating in the West Nile region.
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) regulates the environmental impact of power projects, which includes reviewing and approving environmental impact reviews and assessments and resettlement action plans. NEMA issues environmental clearance certificates if requirements are met.
The Directorate of Water Resource Management (DWRM), an agency of the Ministry of Water and Environment, issues surface- and underground-water abstraction and construction permits to developers of hydropower projects.
The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is a semi-autonomous government agency that provides a one-stop shop for investors, such as free services to assist investors with registering businesses and obtain all necessary licences.
The Electricity Disputes Tribunal (EDT) reviews disputes between consumers and the institutions responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution.
The Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA) is an umbrella organisation that promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency in Uganda. It includes the Uganda Solar Energy Association (USEA), the Energy Efficiency Association of Uganda (EEAU), the Biomass Energy Efficient Technologies Association (BEETA), the Uganda National Biogas Alliance (UNBA), the Hydropower Association of Uganda (HAU) and the Wind Power Association of Uganda (WPAU).
The Uganda National Alliance of Clean Cooking (UNACC) is an industry association of clean cooking stakeholders in Uganda. The organisation supports capacity building of industry stakeholders.
ACTORS IN THE SECTOR
Ugandan Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) is the state-owned generation company. Its main roles are to oversee the performance of ESKOM Uganda and its own power plants, to negotiate and administer engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for government projects and IPPs and to supervise the operations and maintenance of mid-tier public projects.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) is the state owned transmission company. UETCL is also the authorised single buyer of electricity from UEGCL and IPPs, who then sells to UMEME. UETCL has a monopoly on the operation of all Uganda's transmission infrastructure. It also functions as the system operator and bulk single buyer of almost all electricity generated in Uganda.
Ugandan Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is Uganda's holding company for state-owned distribution assets and it both administers and supervises the private distribution concession agreement (presently held by UMEME).
Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the secretariat for the Rural Electrification Board (REB), tasked with implementing Uganda’s Indicative Rural Electrification Master Plan (IREMP), implementing government rural electrification projects, and managing associated funds. It is involved with grid extension, independent grids and off-grid electrification. There are indications that REA will be integrated into the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) in the future and cease to exist independently.
Ministry (Ministries)
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) is responsible for formulating policies, implementing legislation, and inspecting, regulating, monitoring and evaluating the energy sector overall.
Regulator
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)'s main responsibility is setting cost-reflective electricity tariffs. ERA also defines and monitors technical standards within the sector and enforces adherence to the National Grid Code. It issues and monitors the licences required to generate, transmit, and distribute power. The regulator sets and reviews feed-in tariffs for renewable energy (REFiT) generation projects between 1 and 20 MW.
Others
Eskom Uganda Ltd. is a subsidiary of South Africa's Eskom Holdings. In 2003, Eskom Uganda was awarded a 20-year concession for the operation and maintenance of UEGCL's hydropower plants.
UMEME Ltd is a private company with a 20-year concession to distribute and retail electricity in Uganda. UMEME buys in bulk from UETCL and on-sells to retail customers. It is responsible for 97% of electricity distribution in the country.
The West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) is a generation and distribution company operating in the West Nile region.
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) regulates the environmental impact of power projects, which includes reviewing and approving environmental impact reviews and assessments and resettlement action plans. NEMA issues environmental clearance certificates if requirements are met.
The Directorate of Water Resource Management (DWRM), an agency of the Ministry of Water and Environment, issues surface- and underground-water abstraction and construction permits to developers of hydropower projects.
The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is a semi-autonomous government agency that provides a one-stop shop for investors, such as free services to assist investors with registering businesses and obtain all necessary licences.
The Electricity Disputes Tribunal (EDT) reviews disputes between consumers and the institutions responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution.
The Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA) is an umbrella organisation that promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency in Uganda. It includes the Uganda Solar Energy Association (USEA), the Energy Efficiency Association of Uganda (EEAU), the Biomass Energy Efficient Technologies Association (BEETA), the Uganda National Biogas Alliance (UNBA), the Hydropower Association of Uganda (HAU) and the Wind Power Association of Uganda (WPAU).
The Uganda National Alliance of Clean Cooking (UNACC) is an industry association of clean cooking stakeholders in Uganda. The organisation supports capacity building of industry stakeholders.
TARIFFS
Tariff components
Low voltage
Consumption Charge (€/ kWh):
€0.13
VAT (%):
18% (Included in consumption charge)
Medium voltage
Consumption Charge (€/ kWh):
€0.07
VAT (%):
18% (Included in consumption charge)
High voltage
Consumption Charge (€/ kWh):
€0.07
VAT (%):
18% (Included in consumption charge)
Average retail tariff by consumption category
Low voltage (€c/ kWh)
Average LV
12.5
Residential (average of IBTs)
12
Commercial (average of peak, off peak and standard)
15.5
Medium Industrial (average of peak, off peak and standard)
13.7
Street Lighting
8.9
Medium voltage (€c/ kWh)
Average MV
7.2
Large Industrial (11kV; 500kVA-1500kVA; average of peak, off peak and standard across two categories)
8.5
Extra Large Industrial (11kV; >1500kVA; average of peak, off peak and standard across two categories)
5.6
High voltage (€c/ kWh)
Average HV
7.2
Large Industrial (33kV; 500kVA-1500kVA; average of peak, off peak and standard across two categories)
8.5
Extra Large Industrial (33kV; >1500kVA; average of peak, off peak and standard across two categories)
5.9
TARIFF REVIEWS
Is the retail electricity tariff subject to periodic review?
Yes
Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) undertakes an annual Tariff Review after submissions of proposals from the concession holders. The review process involves public meetings and consultation with stakeholders including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda Manufacturers Association and the Media.
QUALITY AND STANDARS
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is focused on formulating and promoting national quality standards. UNBS implements quality control and quality assurance systems for the purpose of consumer protection, public health and safety, industrial and commercial development, and international trade. UNBS has a set of standards specifically for renewable energy. Examples include US 152:2000 (Code of practice for installation of photovoltaic systems) and US 469:2005 (Characteristic parameters of standalone photovoltaic systems). Examples in the clean cooking sector include US 1642:2016 (Domestic biogas stoves), US ISO 19867-1:2018 (Clean cookstoves and clean cooking solutions) and US 761:2019 (Household biomass stoves). Other guidelines and standards applicable to the energy sector available on UNBS’s website include the Distribution Line Construction Guidelines of 2017 and the Quality of Service Standards in the Electricity Supply Industry.
Electricity mix by source (% of installed capacity), 2018
Solar (4.36 %)
Small Hydro (11.16 %)
Biomass (9.41 %)
Other (75.07 %)
CURRENT POTENTIAL
Solar PV resource potential (output range, kWh/ kWp)
3.5 - 5.0
Source
Wind resource potential (Wind speed range, metre per second)
2.5 - 6.5
Source
Resource Potential (small hydro) MW
49.8
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