Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) on a comprehensive partnership in geothermal power that will see the parties collaborate in power generation projects, including personnel development.
The parties signed the MOU during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development 2016 (“TICAD VI”), now being held in Nairobi.
Under the terms of the MOU, Toshiba will collaborate in the development and supply of major equipment for a geothermal power plant, create operation and management guidelines, and cooperate in personnel development. Participation from the development stage on positions Toshiba to contribute to the early construction of the plant, and to supply geothermal power generation equipment in the future.
Uganda lies to the west of the Great Rift Valley and has rich geothermal potential, equivalent to 500 megawatts. Currently, about 60% of power generation capacity is from hydroelectric power, and the country has long promoted construction of hydro power plants. Adding geothermal to the mix will contribute to supply stability and the ability to meet rising demand stimulated by high economic growth—currently increasing at about 10% per a year.
“The development of Uganda's geothermal energy resources is in line with our energy policy objectives of increasing power generation capacity and diversifying our energy mix in order to achieve least cost, affordable and stable energy supply”, said Dr. Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. “We are very confident that the Government of Uganda and Toshiba will create a strong Public-Private-Partnership to develop the Geothermal Energy resources.”
Toyoaki Fujita, Business Development Executive of Toshiba's Energy Systems & Solutions Company said, “We hope to build a strong partnership with Uganda and to contribute to the development of sustainable power supply there. Toshiba’s Energy Systems & Solutions Company is a world leader in geothermal power generation, and I believe that our established expertise can contribute to the geothermal power supply in Uganda.”
Toshiba has delivered 53 geothermal turbines, with a total capacity of 3,400 megawatts, to plants in Japan, the USA, the Philippines, Iceland and other countries around the world. This represents approximately 23%*, of the world's installed geothermal capacity, making Toshiba the world's top supplier.
In the African market, Toshiba most recently delivered four geothermal turbines to Kenya that started commercial operation in 2015. The company has also concluded MOUs with geothermal power development companies in Ethiopia in 2014, Tanzania in 2015 and Djibouti in August this year, all covering comprehensive collaboration in the geothermal power generation business.
Toshiba Group will continue to contribute to stable electricity supply and the realization of a low-carbon economy.
