KAMPALA: As Uganda’s oil and gas projects develop alongside a global campaign for cleaner energy sources, technological advancements are being leveraged to minimize the carbon footprint.
In reference to UBOS 2021 findings, 94% Ugandan households depend on biomass, 73% use firewood while 21% use charcoal for cooking, electricity (1.4%), kerosene (0.6%), and other sources including LPG, bio-fuels account for 3.9% . The high demand for firewood and charcoal has resulted into massive depletion of forests.
For cleaner and environmental friendly energy resources, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa highlighted the need to transition to oil industry by-products such as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
“With an annual growth rate of 9% in LPG usage, we continue to support this green initiative by exempting LPG from taxes, encouraging wider adoption across Uganda”, Nankabirwa stressed.
The Minister also said the ministry’s commitment to LPG usage at household level is unwavering. “Last year, we distributed 13,733 LPG Starter Kits in Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso, and we aim to reach 50,000 households across all cities in the 2024/2025 financial year”, she added.
In addition to the above efforts, Nankabirwa also on Tuesday issued a License for the construction of the KingFisher Development Area Natural Gas conversion facility in Kikuube district, Uganda to CNOOC (U) Limited. The license is for a period of five (5) years from the date of issuance in accordance with the Midstream Act.
At the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in 2023 in Dubai, Uganda unveiled the “Energy Transition Plan,” a commitment to providing universal electricity access to our 45 million citizens by 2030 and introducing cleaner cooking solutions. These initiatives are expected to save thousands of lives annually from smoke inhalation-related issues and are financially feasible through responsible and profitable development of the oil and gas sector.