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Kibiro Implementation Plan

THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF SURFACE EXPLORATION STUDIES IN KIBIRO

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Department of Geological Survey and Mines of Uganda (DGSM) and Geothermal Development Company (GDC) Kenya, held a meeting at the UNEP ROA Mississippi Fish Bowl on Wednesday 29th April 2015. The meeting was preceded by a proposal sent by Uganda to UNEP for technical assistance through African Rift Geothermal Development (ARGeo) Facility. It was attended by representatives from GDC, DGSM and UNEP in order to discuss and develop a joint implementation plan of the Surface exploration studies in the Kibiro geothermal prospect under the UNEP ARGeo project. This study is expected to identify geothermal resource and locate target sites for deep drilling in kibiro with a view to minimize risk of exploration and maximizing the chance of drilling a productive well. This in turn catalyses investment in terms of Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Independent Power Producer (IPP) that will lead to improving access to modern energy by Uganda’s population for social and economic development in an environmentally and sustainable manner.

Uganda has been characterized by low electricity access (5%) due to the low power generation, transmission and distribution capacities. Thus the country needs to expand these capacities in order to increase access to reliable electric power supply to power its growing population and economy. In this regard, geothermal power development is sought to increase capacity and its availability, to improve the generation mix base-load to displace thermal power generation.

In this meeting, UNEP through ARGeo, congratulated Department of Geological Survey and Mines of Uganda on the collective effort put in geothermal exploration and the acquisition of new equipment and personnel especially the young officers. The implementation plan for the surface exploration studies in Kibiro was discussed in detail, and it entailed the hiring plan of consultants/experts to provide support and guidance to local staff in the three geo-scientific disciplines, that is, geologist, geochemist and geophysicist, including conceptual development of Kibiro geothermal system as well as procurement of micro-seismic equipment for Kibiro.

UNEP pledged to support Uganda in its efforts to spark geothermal development through technical and financial assistance. The Geothermal Development Company representatives also agreed to support the Government of Uganda and to coordinate their efforts with DGSM and UNEP in order to add value and assist in the implementation of the surface exploration studies in Kibiro.

In reference to this, it was agreed that UNEP to start process of procurement of equipment and services (hiring three consultants) in May 2015 . In the same vein, DGSM to officially request GDC for its support in terms of equipment and personnel’s for the implementation of surface studies in Kibiro.


Expected Output
  • This study is expected to identify geothermal resource and locate target sites for deep drilling in kibiro with a view to minimize risk of exploration and maximizing the chance of drilling a productive well. This in turn catalyses investment in terms of Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Independent Power Producer (IPP) that will lead to improving access to modern energy by Uganda’s population for social and economic development in an environmentally and sustainable manner.