The Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring Program is implemented under a cooperative arrangement between the Uganda National Bureau of Standards - UNBS and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to control and monitor the quality of petroleum products in Uganda’s entire supply chain.
The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development Okaasai Opolot, says the shift to electric vehicles that has been championed by Kiira Motors has proved beyond doubt that it is cheaper to use electric vehicles than fuel-based ones.
Tayebwa issued a seven-day ultimatum during plenary on Thursday requiring the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to report back their findings to the House in a bid to compel the Government to devise a lasting solution to address the persistent irregular electricity supply.
The MPs on the Committee had convened the meeting on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 to find out steps being taken to end the fuel crisis and also to establish the support given to the Uganda National Oil Company – UNOC to support the national oil reserves to avert the fuel crisis.
Peter Muliisa, the UNOC’s Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer revealed to Uganda Radio Network - URN that KST is ‘not yet constructed’ and the search for a partner to develop it is still on.
Ismail Tobasiima, the Marketing Officer at Stabex International Ltd disclosed that recent research they conducted prior to the project revealed that the 13kg gas cylinder can last three months for an average family with four members.
Busujju County MP David Lukyamuzi raised the matter in Parliament on Thursday, saying that the government contracted Tisan Company in 2019, to supply and distribute electricity in Kitongo parish. Mityana District. He, however, added that the project was abandoned after covering only 50 per cent of the planned area.
Emmanuel Otaala, the Committee Chairperson demanded that Company provides a comprehensive report regarding payment of 28 billion to persons affected by the construction of the 132KV power line on Namanve-Luzira land.
Mehmet Ceyhan, the Mission Team Leader said they reviewed 19 nuclear infrastructure issues to assess Uganda’s readiness towards construction and operation of the first nuclear power plant that includes legal and regulatory frameworks, management, nuclear security and safety. Others are procurement, site and supporting facilities, funding and financing, human resource development, electrical grid, emergency planning, radiation protection, nuclear fuel cycle, and radiative waste.
The procurement of the weighbridges follows several calls from different stakeholders over the absence of proper measures to determine taxes from the minerals and also to help control the load on the trucks to protect roads from damage.
While some studies and analysts say the future of the refinery sector is likely to be challenging especially in the second half of the century, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) which will own 40% of the refinery has indicated that the project will remain profitable.
Last week, residents of Mastya Village when they found kerosene freely flowing in their area from underground.
As a result, the Energy Ministry dispatched a technical team from Petroleum Supply Department to pick samples from the alleged wells and conduct an offsite survey.
Citizens caught mining without permits commit an offence, according to the draft, and are liable to a fine of one billion Shillings or imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both, upon conviction. The bill also provides for a fine of 100 million Shillings to miners using hazardous substances such as mercury or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.
Simon Kilama, a solar energy consumer from Nwoya District welcomed the initiative but castigated the Bureau for taking too long to enforce the standards. Godfrey Akena, the Chairperson Omoro Town Council Business Community Association wondered why non-compliant products are allowed in the country.
While Umeme’s social media sites have been hailed as some of the most interactive and helpful, it is common for complaints lodged to be followed by complaints of delays in handling the situation. Most of the complaints to Umeme are about unexplained power outages.
The survey that will cost about 86 Billion Shillings will start next month in the areas of Karamoja and Lamwo district. Dr Isaiah Tumwikirize, the principal Geophysicist in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development says that the survey will last for one year and six months.
Umeme is expected to start evacuation of power from Karuma hydropower plant and needs to continue investing in the distribution network, to not only improve supply but to boost demand too.
Kitutu says the other companies involved in upstream level activities like generation and transmission should not take advantage of the public ignorance which leaves distributors like Umeme as the visible culprits.
