Egypt, Uganda discuss energy cooperation

Egypt and Uganda discussed Wednesday prospects of boosting bilateral relations in the fields of electricity generation and distribution.

A meeting between Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Younis and Ugandan State Minister for Water and Mineral Resources Maria Mutagawtsa also discussed exchange of expertise to jointly benefit from. the available water resources and use alternatives to transforming and exporting electric energy.

They also discussed electric linkage grid among Nile basin members. Egypt is ready to provide Uganda with the technical expertise in extending power networks and carrying out a program to set up new generation plants, Younis told the Ugandan Minister.

Egypt, Younis said, is also ready to form a working team to study ways to reduce electric energy waste in Uganda, estimated at 36 per cent, compared to 12 per cent in Egypt.

Egypt also agreed to provide Uganda with necessary expertise in the fields of non-conventional and renewable energy, especially in the wind energy domains, as part of a plan to activate cooperation among the Nile basin countries, the Egyptian minister added.

Electricity generation rates in Uganda were doubled over the last two years, Mutagawtsa said, adding that her country was looking forward to more cooperation with Egypt in all fields, especially electricity domains in light of Egypt's expertise.

She underlined the importance of fair and maximum utilization of water resources by the Nile Basin Countries.

Uganda hosts the permanent headquarters of the secretariat of the Nile Basin Initiative, the Ugandan official said.