**Categories:** News, Energy, Gas **Tags:** Uganda, natural gas, power generation, Kingfisher, Tilenga **Excerpt:** Two gas-fired power plants totaling more than 100 MW have received licenses. They are intended to supply Lake Albert oil operations and could feed surplus electricity into the national grid. **Slug:** ouganda-centrales-gaz-plus-100mw-electricite **Image alt:** A gas-fired power facility near the Lake Albert oil projects in Uganda.
Uganda is preparing more than 100 megawatts of new gas-fired electricity capacity. Two plants have received licenses and are primarily intended to supply the power needed for oil operations in the Lake Albert basin. Surplus electricity could be sold to the national grid, connecting hydrocarbon-related generation more closely with the power sector's needs.
The projects are part of preparations for Ugandan oil production. Tilenga and Kingfisher facilities will need reliable power for processing equipment, pumps and supporting infrastructure. Producing some of this energy near the sites can reduce electricity transmission constraints and facilitate operations.
Industrial demand that could benefit the grid
Together, the planned plants exceed 100 MW. Part of their generation is expected to serve oil operations, while excess electricity could be fed into the grid. This possibility would benefit consumers and businesses if connection capacity, construction schedules and sales contracts are put in place.
Grid connection involves more than a power line. Purchase conditions, management of maintenance periods, technical standards and cost allocation must be defined. Generation must also match system needs to prevent available capacity from going unused because of insufficient demand or transmission.
For the oil sector, reliable electricity is a factor in operational continuity. Gas-fired plants can reduce the use of on-site diesel generators and provide dispatchable energy. Their economic value will nevertheless depend on fuel costs, gas availability, construction spending and integration with existing infrastructure.
Gas as a bridge between production and consumption
Uganda is developing oil projects alongside the infrastructure needed to bring them into production. Using associated gas or gas available at the facilities can contribute to power supply and reduce wasted resources. It also opens prospects for broader industrial uses, provided suitable networks, contracts and processing capacity are developed.
Gas can provide flexible generation that complements hydroelectric dams and renewable energy. The country will nevertheless need to consider changing demand and diversification objectives. Gas-fired plants, hydropower capacity, solar energy and regional interconnections can be planned as components of a common system rather than separate projects.
Gas use also raises cost and emissions issues. Operators will need to control leaks, apply safety standards and limit production-related emissions. Comparisons with other solutions must consider the system's full cost and the expected operating life of the facilities.
From licensing to commissioning
Granting licenses is a regulatory milestone, but the plants must still pass several stages before producing electricity: financing, engineering, gas supply arrangements, construction and testing. Commissioning schedules will influence the ability to synchronize power generation with oil operations and grid development.
Indicators to track include finalized contracts, financing decisions, construction progress and surplus electricity sales agreements. Clear publication of capacities, fuel needs and grid injection conditions would help authorities and consumers understand the projects' actual contribution.
If built on time and connected to the grid, these plants could provide a dispatchable source near the oil basin and contribute to national electricity supply. Their success will depend on coordination among operators, the regulator and the grid operator. The challenge will be to turn infrastructure dedicated to hydrocarbons into capacity useful to the country's energy system.