Prime
Govt opts for production cost sharing on Kilembe Mines
Kilembe Mines, a copper producer which began operating in 1950, had an estimated 4.5 million tonnes of copper ore when operations stopped. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
Earlier, Nankabirwa said, government had invited potential investors for Kilembe Mines to partner with government in the new concept of production sharing agreements so that the country can maximise profits from production of cables and transformers locally using cobalt, copper and other minerals produced here
The Ministry of Energy has said government is searching for investors who are willing to sign production sharing agreements to mine copper and cobalt from Kilembe Mines in Kasese District.
The mines had been concessioned to Tibet Hima Mining Company but the deal was cancelled in 2021.
However, while launching the biomass to electricity cooking project at the Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit in Mulago hospital, Kampala early this week, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy, said as the electricity grid network continues to expand, government is aware of the challenges power distribution company Umeme is experiencing in regard to access to inputs, which are needed to extend power connections.
The company, she said, has turned to local raw materials to produce transmission cables and transformers, which are urgently needed thus reviving the need to create a mechanism through which they can be supplied.
“Umeme, I know the challenges you go through, the network is expanding. I bring you good news, we are targeting to exploit our resources to produce most of the items we need in the electricity supply,” she said.
Earlier, Nankabirwa said, government had invited potential investors for Kilembe Mines to partner with government in the new concept of production sharing agreements so that the country can maximise profits from production of cables and transformers locally using cobalt, copper and other minerals produced here.
The project, she said, will also be important in extending new initiatives such as the cooking electricity programme to institutions such as prisons, schools and hospitals to reduce the socio -economic impact of using charcoal and firewood for cooking.
The cooking electricity programme, an initiative of Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority, seeks to increase usage of electricity as a cooking aide through putting in place a special tariff.
Ms Sheila Ngatia, the UNDP deputy resident representative, said the cooking electricity project is a result of a 2020 public call for proposals for high impact ideas addressing mitigation of the rapid deforestation and environmental degradation.
The partnership
According to Eng Zilia Tibalwa Waako, the ERA chief executive officer, in 2019, the regulator partnered with UNDP on a programme to scale up access and use of electricity, setting up a pilot project with Mulago hospital to convert the kitchens at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit to use electricity.
