Me I can say, at rural plants far from the grid, diesel has been the single biggest running cost after labour. Now several medium-scale operators are installing solar with battery storage next to the generator, running the light loads on sun and keeping the engine for the mills.
01The numbers people gave us
Site managers we spoke to describe fuel bills dropping by a third once the panels carry pumping, lighting and offices. We could not audit those figures ourselves, so treat them as what operators report, not as verified accounts.
02The catch
Batteries in dust and heat do not last as long as the brochure says, and there are few technicians upcountry who can service an inverter. A system with no maintenance contract is a two-season system.
03Our reading
Me I can say, cheaper power is what allows a plant to keep running when the gold price dips, and that is also what keeps local people in work. On balance this is a good direction for the sector. On the ground, that is what matters most.
How we verified this: licence and production details are checked against official records and ministry statements where they exist. Corrections are welcome at corrections@ugandamineraltrust.com.