{"id":6346,"date":"2022-08-07T12:34:06","date_gmt":"2022-08-07T12:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=6346"},"modified":"2022-08-08T10:26:58","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T10:26:58","slug":"tough-law-enacted-to-deal-electricity-infrustructure-vandalism-minister-okaasai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/tough-law-enacted-to-deal-electricity-infrustructure-vandalism-minister-okaasai\/","title":{"rendered":"TOUGH LAW ENACTED TO DEAL WITH ELECTRICITY INFRUSTRUCTURE VANDALISM-MINISTER OKAASAI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 Private Solar Power generating individuals, companies allowed to sell power to the national grid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Energy and Minerals week 2022 is on<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BY ZURAH NAKABUGO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister of State for Energy Sidronius Opolot Okaasai has warned the public against vandalizing the country\u2019s electricity infrastructure noting that offenders will face tough penalties including jail terms and fines of up to Ug.shs 1bn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just last week the Uganda Police arrested suspects in a swoop it conducted in and around Kampala where electricity materials including high voltage cables were being sold by vandals . Several powerlines have been vandalized along major highways forcing government to establish a specialized police unit to find and arrest the thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccording to the amended new law on electricity infrastructure 2022, if you are caught tempering with electricity infrastructure, you will be liable to a fine not less than Shs 1bn or imprisonment of 15 years or have both,\u201d Okaasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
PS Eng. Irene Bateebe had a light moment at the event <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He added, \u201cthe new law on electricity is against electricity infrastructure vandalism, ranging from stealing electricity, tempering with electricity distribution lines, cutting off jigh voltage cables, stealing wires and others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okaasai was launching the Energy Week 2022  at Hotel Africana with a theme \u201cEnergy and Minerals for sustainable Industrialization and Economic Recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said, this year\u2019s energy and minerals week , will focus more on maintenance and increased awareness and dissemination of information about -availability of energy resources for public to know and improve Uganda\u2019s industrialization and economic recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okaasai said the new law is also enabling the generators and transmitters of electricity to sell it directly to end users. This will reduce on the electricity prices since they have removed the \u2018middlemen\u2019-distributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis has targeted to help mainly the industries within the proximity of generation plant since they have removed the cost of distributors and they will be paying low tariffs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okasaai said the new law gives provision to facilitate a person to sell excess generated power from the solar panel of his house using net metering and supply it to the grid which is managed by transmission companies without storing it in batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c The transmission company will count the amount of power you have put in the grid and then pay you for that power,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Okaasai said, currently the capacity of reserved fuel tanks, available in Jinja is 30 million liters of petroleum products which can take the country for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn order to ensure steady petroleum products in the country, we have to maintain the reserved fuel tanks but also store more fuel within oil marketing companies since they have a bigger capacity, for reserves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry of energy advised all oil marketing companies to have their own oil capacity towards Kenyan elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf all oil companies in the country have full reserved oil, towards Kenyan elections, these petrol products would take us for two weeks and above.  There is also another petroleum storage infrastructure with capacity of 70 million liters, established on Entebbe road for future security of fuel products,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the same event Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy and Mineral development, said the Energy and Minerals Week, has been organized to increase awareness on strategies, policies, legal and regulatory issues relating to energy and minerals in the country through dialogue and exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is aimed at encouraging the sustainable use of energy and minerals in our country and has been held annually for the past 17 years (since 2005),\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bateeba said this year\u2019s annual event will start on October 31 to November 5, at Kololo Independence grounds. During the week, Ministry of Energy will provide information relating to progress made in energy and Mineral development within the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said, \u201cWe are coming out of COVID-19 and there is need for us to build a certain resilience around our sub-sector. This dialogue will enable all of us to think through this sustainability and resilience plan to enable us to archive our targets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She advised all companies interested in energy development to support the ministry and attend the function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several events are planned to take place during the Energy and Minerals Week 2022 include, the Energy and Minerals Exhibition on October 31 to November 5, Oil and Gas Dialogue on October 31 and Minerals Dialogue, on November 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others are the Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility Conference on November 1, the Power Forum 2022, on November 2 among  others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 Private Solar Power generating individuals, companies allowed to sell power to the national grid The Energy and Minerals week 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6347,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65,87],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","category-energy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ok-scaled.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4679,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/power-blackout-in-kampala-is-due-to-vandalism-of-high-voltage-electricity-lines-in-areas-of-mukono-says-state-minister-okaasai-opolot\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":0},"title":"POWER BLACKOUT IN KAMPALA IS DUE TO VANDALISM OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY LINES IN AREAS OF MUKONO SAYS STATE MINISTER OKAASAI OPOLOT","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"November 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Munyonyo Hardly two days after the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa decried the rampant vandalism of evacuation power lines and expensive towers across the country \u00a0\u2013 the vandals struck again -this time near the capital Kampala- in Mukono and brought down two high\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Energy"","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-20211129-WA0086.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-20211129-WA0086.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-20211129-WA0086.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-20211129-WA0086.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-20211129-WA0086.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6184,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/minister-okaasai-advises-kumi-residents-to-use-electricity-for-development-projects\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":1},"title":"Minister Okaasai advises Kumi residents to use electricity for development projects","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By ZURAH NAKABUGO The Minister of State for Energy Sidronius Opolot Okaasai has urged residents of\u00a0 Kumi district to use electricity for industrial and economic development projects -including \u00a0factories, modernization of agriculture and farming. \u201cThe President has been at the forefront of ensuring access to electricity all over the country\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Energy"","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sa-2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sa-2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sa-2.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9264,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/minister-okaasai-flags-off-uranium-exploration-program-in-sembabule\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":2},"title":"Minister Okaasai flags-off Uranium exploration program in Sembabule","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Sembabule State Minister for Energy, Hon. Okaasai S. Opolot has officially launched the exploration and evaluation of the country 's nuclear resources. The launch took place at the Sembabule district headquarters and the exercise will be carried out in various various districts. Minister Okassai said that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Energy"","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-19-at-22.23.14-750x375-1.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-19-at-22.23.14-750x375-1.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-19-at-22.23.14-750x375-1.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-19-at-22.23.14-750x375-1.jpeg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4037,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/energy-minister-commissions-rural-electrification-project-in-luuka-and-moroto-districts\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":3},"title":"Energy Minister commissions Rural Electrification Project in Luuka and Moroto districts","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sierra Ruth Arinaitwe The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa has officially commissioned the Uganda Rural Electrification Access project (UREAP) in Luuka and Moroto districts. This was during a ministerial visit to eastern and north eastern Uganda for the electricity supply industry tour on which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Energy"","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ruth.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ruth.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ruth.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ruth.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ruth.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9855,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/speaker-anita-among-mps-bitter-about-renewed-power-outages-across-the-country\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":4},"title":"Speaker Anita Among , MPs bitter about renewed power outages across the country","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has joined other lawmakers to demand that the Ministry of Energy urgently intervenes in the recurring countrywide outages which is affecting industries and businesses. The Soroti East Division Member of Parliament, Herbert Ariko, speaking on an issue of national importance noted that the UMEME,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Electricity vandalism"","block_context":{"text":"Electricity vandalism","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/electricity-vandalism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/download.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7143,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/uganda-is-implementing-a-balanced-energy-mix-strategy-minister-okaasai\/","url_meta":{"origin":6346,"position":5},"title":"UGANDA IS IMPLEMENTING A BALANCED ENERGY MIX STRATEGY-MINISTER OKAASAI","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"November 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Minister of State for Energy Hon. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot has said that the government of Uganda is implementing an energy mix strategy -which balances the productive utilisation of all the country\u2019s natural resources while conserving the environment and gradually transitioning from fossil to clean energy . Mr. Okaasi said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Energy"","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/IMG_20221101_120946_960-scaled.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/IMG_20221101_120946_960-scaled.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/IMG_20221101_120946_960-scaled.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/IMG_20221101_120946_960-scaled.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/IMG_20221101_120946_960-scaled.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-1Em","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6346"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6355,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6346\/revisions\/6355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}