9th March 2011, Based in the US, Taylor Biomass Energy has entered into a collaborative agreement with Ugandan Sesam Energetics Ltd, for the construction of a biomass gasification plant worth US$160 million in the country’s Kampala region.
According to the US biomass energy company, the new plant will have the potential to generate more than 40MW of bio-based power, as well as recycling a minimum of 1,030 metric tons of Kampala’s municipal solid waste every day – providing sufficient energy for more than 35,000 homes.
In terms of coffee, Uganda, which is the largest producer of Robusta coffee in Africa, has been struggling with power shortages since 2006. This has had a direct knock-on effect on the country’s manufacturing industry, which is led primarily by processing plants handling raw commodities such as coffee, tea, cotton and fish.
At present, Uganda is dependent on costly fuel-driven thermal plants to produce almost half of its electricity requirements, as a result of the reduced water levels on its two key hydro power stations, following a period of prolonged drought in 2006.
The agreement between the two businesses has resulted in the creation of Taylor Biomass Energy Uganda, which is to handle the project’s execution.
In news more directly linked to Ugandan coffee, local producers are said to be benefiting from their focus on fair trade practices, since the Bugisu Cooperative Union’s formation of Gumutindo Cooperative Trading. Gumutindo, which translates as ‘quality,’ has reportedly “sensitised farmers by reminding them of the things they know about coffee” and given them a better price for their produce as a result.
http://www.coffeethings.co.uk/1602/ugandan-coffee-to-benefit-from-biomass-energy-developments/
