Buranga Geothermal Power Station Explained

Buranga Geothermal Power Station
Coordinates:0.8331°N 30.1669°W
Country:Uganda
Location:Buranga Hot Springs
Bundibugyo District
Status:P
Construction Began:2018 (Expected)
Commissioned:2022 (Expected)
Th Fuel Primary:Geothermal
Ps Electrical Capacity:100MW

The Buranga Geothermal Power Station, is a proposed 100MW geothermal power station in Uganda.[1]

Location

The power station would be located at Buranga Hot Springs, off the Fort Portal–Bundibugyo–Lamia Road in Bundibugyo District, approximately 61km (38miles), by road, northwest of Fort Portal, the nearest large city. This location is approximately 355km (221miles), by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The coordinates of Buranga Hot Springs are 0°49'59.0"N, 30°10'01.0"E (Latitude:0.833062; Longitude:30.166947).

Overview

As part of efforts to diversify the national electricity sources, the government of Uganda licensed Green Impact Development Services (GIDS) to drill an exploratory well in the Buranga Hot Springs area. Pre-feasibility studies at this location have indicated subsurface water temperatures of to, which are suitable for electricity generation.[2] GIDS plans to drill three deep wells and to generate at least 30 megawatts from each well.[3] However some sources have indicated that these plans may be too ambitious for a greenfield site with no prior history of geothermal output.[4]

Funding

The cost of construction is budgeted at US$42 million.[3]

Recent developments

Following an explosion at a drilling site located at Kibiro in Hoima District on the night of 29 March 2020, the Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development halted drilling at that site, at another site in Panyimur, Pakwach District and at the Buranga site in Bundibugyo District. Drilling may resume after a detailed "environmental and social impact assessment" (ESIA) is conducted.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Uganda, Tanzaniaz start geothermal projects to plug power deficit . 16 March 2016 . 22 February 2016 . Kennedy. Senelwa. . Kampala.
  2. Web site: Geothermal energy to be a source of electricity in Uganda and Tanzania . 26 February 2016 . Construction Review Online . Construction Review Online . 16 March 2016 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  3. Web site: . Uganda, Tanzania in Geothermal Projects to Plug Power Deficit . 20 February 2016 . 16 March 2016 . Kennedy Senelwa . Nairobi.
  4. Web site: Buranga geothermal prospect in Uganda estimated at 100 MW . Thinkgeoenergy.com . 8 February 2016 . Africa Stopover . 9 August 2021 . Reykjavik, Iceland.
  5. Web site: Uganda: Geothermal exploration suspended in Kibiro, Panyimur and Buranga . Afrik21.africa . 30 April 2021 . 8 August 2021 . Jean Marie Takouleu . Paris, France.