The Xsabo Nkonge Power Station (Xsabo Nkonge Solarline), a US$22 million 20 MW/AC solar power plant, will be ready for commissioning before the 31st of March 2024, according to Dr. David Alobo, CEO of Xsabo Group.
Registered by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) in the national gazette for the implementation process following license issuance on 28 September 2020, the power station is located in Kyakasa “A” Village, Kasambya Sub-County, Mubende district.
Xsabo Solarline, a solar photovoltaic project with 38,0000 solar panels feeding into the National grid, is one of the Uganda Development Bank’s initiatives in supporting Sustainable development.
It is part of the $200 million planned investment of The Xsabo Group in Uganda for a total capacity of 150 megawatts.
According to Alobo, Xsabo Nkonge Solarline is expected to be the largest grid-connected, privately-funded solar power plant not only in Uganda, but also in East and Central Africa, ahead of Soroti SPS (10 MW) and Tororo SPS (10 MW), and just a little bigger than The Xsabo Group‘s own Kabulasoke SPS with the same capacity of 20 MW, thanks to the Horizontal Tracking System that distinguishes Xsabo Nkonge Solarline from the solar project of the same brand in Kabulasoke.
Xsabo Lira Solarline (50MW), which is also part of The Xsabo Group, will become the largest solar power plant in Sub-Saharan Africa, outside of South Africa, according to Alobo.
“I welcome you all to the most modern solar power of Sub-Saharan Africa. With 2OMW, it is as big as the Pilot Solar Power Plant 20 A of The Xabo Group in Kabulasoke, the largest solar power plant in East and Central Africa,” said Alobo on Wednesday.
“I wholeheartedly thank the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) once more for providing the loan facility that has enabled the successful construction of this solar power plant. It will be ready for commissioning before 31st March 2024.”
He said the Xsabo Group is part of a Growth Agenda to build resilience, catalyse sustainable growth and promote net-zero economic transition in Uganda and across Africa as the world economy moves towards a low-carbon future which is totally in line with UDB’s Purpose Statement.
On his part, UDB Ag. Managing Director, Denis Ochieng, said beyond considering the financial viability of projects, the Bank continues to invest in initiatives that demonstrate the potential to accelerate socio-economic development in the country by creating real development outcomes or high socio-economic value.
“Consistent with UDB’s strategy to support the key sectors of the economy, the bulk of this approved funding, i.e. 59%, targeted the industry sector (agro-industrialization and manufacturing) with UGX409 billion approved to this sector alone.”
In her speech as chief guest, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi, Chairperson of ERA, said Nkonge Solar Plant will be the second Solar plant proudly owned by a Ugandan, fully constructed and operated by Ugandans.
“This is a key milestone in Uganda’s Energy profile and it speaks directly to the Local Content and BUBU Policies of the Government of Uganda,” said Dr Wasagali who represented Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.
She said once completed; the power generated from 20 MW Xsabo Nkonge Power Station will be sold to the Government of Uganda through the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) at US Cents 7.1-Kilowatt Hour, which is the lowest tariff among the existing solar plants.
“It will interconnect along the 132 kV Kabulasoke-Nkonge Transmission Line and will largely serve Electricity Consumers connected to the Nkonge and Kabulasoke Substations. The plant will push the Country’s grid-connected Solar portfolio to 80.6 MW joining other five (5) plants already connected with a combined capacity of 60.6 MW.”
She encouraged electricity consumers to participate in the current upgrade of prepaid meters with the guidance of their service providers and the replacement/substituting of meters at no additional cost.
“Take advantage of the Government initiatives aimed at: accelerating access to electricity such as the Electricity Scale-Up Program, and Hybrid Customer Connection Framework where an intending customer can make a down payment of UGX 200,000 for a no-pole connection and pay the remaining balance of UGX 270,000 as 15% off each of their energy purchases over a period of eight (8) years; and, tariff affordability entailing special packages for different consumer categories.”
