CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING KATWE GEOTHERMAL POWER PROJECT IN KIKORONGO-BUNYAMPAKA, KASESE DISTRICT, WESTERN UGANDA

摘要

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has progressed to a level of attracting independent power producers' investment in line with Uganda's fully liberalized energy in addition to Government of Uganda Overall Policy of increasing the use of modern renewable energy, from the current 4% to 61% of the total energy consumption by the year 2017. Messrs. Katwe Geothermal Power Project Limited is one of the developers granted a concession in Katwe Kikorongo- Bunyampaka geothermal field. According to exploration work carried out by the Department of Geological Survey and Mines indicate that the geothermal activity in the four areas is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. Subsurface temperatures of approximately 140-200°C for Katwe, has been predicted by geothermometry and mixing models. Anomalous area has been delineated in Katwe prospect using geophysical methods. The geology, geochemistry, hydrology and geophysics studies together with the drilling of shallow boreholes to a depth of 200-300m for temperature gradient measurement has been completed and the temperatures measured (30-36°C/km) are slightly above the global average of 30°C/km, which suggests deep reservoirs in Katwe area. The Katwe Geothermal Project estimated at 100 - 200 Mega Watts, will be developed as a turnkey project in partnership with an American Investor on finance, design, build, operate and transfer basis employing a venture capital of approximately United States dollars one billon. The project encountered a myriad of challenges that have affected the completion of surface surveys, environment impact assessment and drilling of three test wells, greatly affecting the completion of this phase that was slated for September, 2013.