Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development - Uganda Multimedia News & Information

PPDA wants a share of 30 per cent oil contracts given to Ugandans

Agnes Tumuheire — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 07:39:42 +0000

According to Mr Benson Turamye, the acting PPDA executive director, the guidelines of 30 per cent of contract value works being subcontracted to local companies already apply to procurements by government ministries, departments and agencies, but procurement tenders in the oil industry are not necessarily subjected to the same.

Turamye, while at an oil and gas workshop co-convened by the Office of the Auditor General, Inspectorate of Government, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and German development agency (GIZ), said that even under such circumstances when international contractors are given the contracts, there should be a deliberate attempt to enforce them to sub-contract or pair up with local contractors to boost their capacity in the otherwise complex fields.

“Even when you go international, there should be endeavour to enforce or ensure national involvement to the extent of 30 per cent.”

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Ugandans might miss out on the Fruits of the Oil sector due to lack of skills

Agnes Tumuheire — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 12:12:43 +0000

workers at oil and gas refinery project Ugandans might miss out on the Fruits of the Oil sector due to lack of skills

According to Honey Malinga, the director of the Directorate of Petroleum, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development,the industry experiences many challenges towards local content and skills development.

Uganda needs over 25,000 qualified workers, craftsmen and technicians to exploit oil and precious minerals(New vision 27 August 2018)

While addressing graduates of the Youth Employment Enhancement Project (YEEP) on Thursday at St Simon Peters Vocational Training Centre, Hoima, Malinga said the oil and gas industry alone where $20b will be invested over the next three years, 16,000 jobs will be created during peak production and 75% of these jobs will require people with vocational and technical skills.

“Shortage of skilled workforce, lack of data on existing skills and how these relate to the current demand in the sector, lack of communication on the details of jobs available in the industry and the required qualifications stagnates the sector. Through the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the National Talent Register is being developed,” Malinga said.

Uganda’s oil refinery under construction:over 25,000 qualified workers, craftsmen and technicians

Over 220 artisans received international certification in welding, fabrication and pipework, electrical engineering, scaffolding erection and inspection at the graduation.

Fr Joseph Bigirwa, the director of St Simon Peters Vocational Training Centre encouraged the graduates to pursue self-development relentlessly as a multi-dimensional concept encompassing spoken languages, mental perseverance, events organisation skills and physical elements.

“Strive to develop to international standards. Acquire new forms of knowledge and move society for the indefinite future,” Bigirwa said.

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Illegal miners in Mubende evading registration by government

Gerald Businge — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 13:51:19 +0000

state minister for minerals, Peter Lokeris

Illegal miners in Mubende are running away from the mining areas following government’s exercise of registering local miners in this place in the district.

Gold artisan and small scale gold miners in Mubende who are leaving under fear following alleged presidential directive to evict them from the area are also now going through registration to separate between illegal foreign and local miners in the area.

Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Peter lokeris, together with the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Stephen Robert Ishabiija, confirmed the registration of miners in Mubende while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources this week .

The Committee Chaired by Isingiro South MP, Alex Byarugaba, pinned the Ministry of Energy officials on failure to certify most of Uganda minerals to generate more revenues through giving licenses.

The UPDF representative in parliament Brigadier Innocent Felix Oula said that few of Uganda minerals are certified resulting into Uganda missing out revenue to illegal miners.

Women miners

“We started the exercise of registration of miners in Mubende and as this is going on,some illegal miners are running away from this place, saying that influx of people in this area had become a security concern,” Loreris said, adding that; “After this exercise genuine miners will be issued with license to operate legally and this will be taken to all the places with minerals.”

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Parliament approves loan worth US$ 91.5 for rural electrification in northern Uganda

Gerald Businge — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:53:42 +0000

Parliament has approved two motions authorizing government to borrow up to US$102.88million intended for rural electrification projects.

Government is set to borrow US$91.5million from the International Development Association (IDA)of the World Bank to finance the Grid Expansion and Reinforcement Project.

The project is intended to increase availability and efficiency of bulk electricity supply in Gulu, Nebbi and Arua districts, which will help in the evacuation of power from new generation sites such as Karuma and Isimba hydro power stations.

Engineers fixing power lines in a rural area.

Government will also borrow an additional US$ 11.32million (Kuwait Dinars 3.5m) from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to finance the construction of the 33KV and 11KV distribution project in six districts of; Kiryandongo, Kibaale, Nebbi, Bushenyi, Kasese and Rukungiri.

This project aims to further extend the rural power line coverage by construction of a 285 km network in the six districts. The project is also aimed at facilitating the implementation of the rural electrification programme, to increase access and unlock suppressed demand.

“This project is in line with the country’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan, 2015/16 – 2019/2020 which identify with the promotion of sustainable economic growth and improving the living standards of the population in the rural areas, by providing access to electricity through extending the interconnected electricity grid,” said a source from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral development who preferred anonymity .

Legislators said that although generation, access and distribution of electricity were increasing, the cost of power and its installation remained prohibitive to the general population.

“We need to review the cost of power, considering that it’s of no benefit to have poles and power lines when the people cannot access and utilise the power,” said Hon. Helen Kahunde (Kiryandondo).

Hon. Nabilah Naggayi (Kampala) said that several consumers were willing to pay for power but were being frustrated by the UMEME, the service provider.

“It is very hard, expensive and difficult to access the Yaka pre-paid system. UMEME should not frustrate people who want to access this service,” she said.

Hon. Mbabali Muyanja (Bukoto South).

Hon. Mbabali Muyanja (Bukoto South) said a lot of power was being lost due to illegal connections, now standing at 38%. The MP recommended that power be connected to houses on credit.

The Committee on National Economy noted a mismatch in the electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure necessary to evacuate the power and make it accessible to consumers.

It recommended that government streamlines this mismatch between generation, transmission and distribution over the medium term in order to ensure that the medium target of 30 percent access to electricity is attained, but also ensure that all generated power is consumed.

The Committee also recommended that government considers acquiring a central corridor for infrastructure projects to accommodate power lines, water pipes, communication infrastructure and road reserves, so as to reduce on repeated compensation whenever projects are implemented.

The Committee called upon the government steps up efforts to increase power supply which will gradually help to reduce energy prices to about 7 US cents/kilowatt/hr by 2017.

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Irene Muloni promises to improve services of Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development

Gerald Businge — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:09:38 +0000

The newly appointed Minister of Energy and mineral development Irene Muloni has assured the Parliamentary Appointments committee and Ugandans that she has what it takes to effectively manage the ministry.

Irene Muloni, Uganda's Minister of Energy and Mineral Development

Muloni says she will manage the new sector given the technical and professional expertise she has had in the ministry for the last 20 years.

Muloni, an Engineer served as the Director of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company, a government parastal that was divested to Umeme.

Muloni says that the ministry expects a lot from the oil because government wants to generate funds to work on roads and hospitals.

Ultimate Media

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