(Ecofin Agency) - Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) granted $993,000 to power developer Earth Energy Co Ltd for preliminary works for the development of a 20 MW biomass gasification project. The funding will allow the Ugandan company to conduct preliminary studies such as technical and environmental feasibility studies as well as assess the project’s social impact.

The infrastructure, which will be connected to the national power grid, will be supplied in agricultural waste by around 15,000 farmers from the region. The farmers will this way be able to increase their annual earnings by about $720. The project will also result in the creation of 6,000 jobs in Gulu Town, in Uganda, and help prevent deforestation by providing rural communities biochar briquettes as an alternative to firewood.

“This grant will be instrumental in both the deployment of an innovative technology in an African context, but also in providing a clean energy alternative to a country highly dependent on hydropower such as Uganda,” said Amadou Hott, vice-president for power, energy, climate and green growth at AfDB which manages SEFA.

Gwladys Johnson