Status of Geothermal Exploration and Development in Uganda (original) (raw)

Geothermal Energy Exploration at Buranga Geothermal Prospect, Western Uganda

2015

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Buranga, Katwe and Kibiro. The three areas are in advanced stages of surface exploration and will soon be subjected to exploratory drilling that will pave the way for a feasibility study. The overall objective of the study is to develop geothermal energy to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound environment. Recent studies in Buranga have used geological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical methods to elucidate subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of the geothermal system. The results indicate that the geothermal activity at Buranga is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. The geothermal surface manifestations include hot bubbling springs, water pools, gas vents, H2S gas, travertine tufas and geothermal grass. The main geological structure is the Bwamba escarpment that forms the western part of the Rwenzori horst mountain massif. This main rift fault is cut by numerous perpendicular and oblique striking faults which together with other faults/fractures contribute to the recharge and up-flow permeability for the geothermal fluids at Buranga. Subsurface temperatures of 120-150˚C have been predicted by geothermometry. The results also indicate that hot springs show isotopic composition compatible with the local meteoric water line, confirming the meteoric origin of the water circulating in the geothermal system. Results from isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen (δDH2O, δ18OH2O) suggest that the recharge is from high ground in the Rwenzori Mountains. Sulphur isotopes (34SSO4) of hot water samples show magmatic contributions of sulphate, while strontium isotopes of water and rock samples (87/86SrH2O, 87/86SrRock) identify the rock type as granitic gneisses, suggesting that the major source of salinity is from water-rock interaction with a magmatic input. Micro-seismic surveys have located a subsurface anomaly within the vicinity of the thermal activity at Buranga, but is yet to be confirmed by additional geophysical surveys and drilling. Recently, TEM and MT surveys have been conducted at Buranga; the results indicate a low resistivity anomaly associated with the geothermal surface manifestations, the main rift escarpment and the faults associated to the main rift escarpment.

Status of Geothermal Energy Exploration at Buranga Prospect Western Uganda

2016

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Buranga, Katwe and Kibiro. The three areas are in advanced stages of surface exploration and will soon be subjected to exploratory drilling that will pave the way for a feasibility study. The overall objective of the study is to develop geothermal energy to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound environment. Recent studies in Buranga have used geological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical methods to elucidate subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of the geothermal system. The results indicate that the geothermal activity at Buranga is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. The geothermal surface manifestations include hot bubbling springs, water pools, gas vents (H2S and CO2 ga...

Status of Geothermal Exploration in Uganda

2007

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro. The three areas are in an advanced stage of surface exploration and will soon be subjected to exploratory drilling that will pave the way for a feasibility study. The overall objective of the study is to develop geothermal energy to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound environment. The methodology of the study has focused on geology, geochemistry, hydrology and geophysics with the aim of elucidating subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of the geothermal systems. The results indicate that the geothermal activity in the three areas is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. Subsurface temperatures of approximately 140-200˚C, 120-150˚C and 200-220˚C for Katwe,...

Status of Geothermal Energy Exploration and Development in Uganda, 2008

2008

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro. The three areas are in an advanced stage of surface exploration and will soon be subjected to exploratory drilling that will pave the way for a feasibility study. The overall objective of the study is to develop geothermal energy to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound environment. The methodology of the study has focused on geology, geochemistry, hydrology and geophysics with the aim of elucidating subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of the geothermal systems. The results indicate that the geothermal activity in the three areas is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. Subsurface temperatures of approximately 140-200˚C, 120-150˚C and 200-220˚C for Katwe,...

Status of Geothermal Energy Exploration at Katwe Geothermal Prospect, Western Uganda

2019

Systematic geothermal exploration in Uganda started way back in 1993 centered first on three major geothermal areas namely: Katwe-Kikorongo, Buranga and Kibiro and later added Panyimur in 2005. The criteria employed then to select these sites for detailed exploration were, among others: the presence of geothermal manifestations in the form of hot springs, travertine mounds and volcanic ejectamenta. The Katwe geothermal prospect, like all the others, has been explored since 1993 on the assumption that it was a volcanic – hosted geothermal system. Additionally, six (6) 200-300 m deep temperature gradient holes (TGHs) were drilled in the Katwe prospect in 2006/2007 with the aim of locating a geothermal reservoir but the results suggested that the reservoir was either deep seated or offset from the drilled sites. While some magmatic influence cannot be ruled out at Katwe, it is now clear that the prospect falls within the now recognized model for the western rift of a fault – hosted geo...

Geothermal Energy in Uganda, Country Update 2010

2010

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro. The three areas are in advanced stages of su rface exploration and will soon be subjected to explorato ry drilling that will pave the way for a feasibilit y study. The overall objective of the study is to develop geothe rmal energy to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound envi ronment. The current study has focused on geology, geochemistry, hydrology and geophysics with the aim of eluci dating subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of t he geothermal systems. The results indicate that th e geothermal activity in the three areas is related to the volca nic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, whi ch has a higher heat flow than the surrounding Precambrian crust. Subsur face temperatures of approximately 140-200˚C for Katwe, 120150˚C for Buranga, and ...

Technical Review of Geothermal Potential of Kibiro Geothermal Prospect, Uganda

2016

This paper presents the executive summary of the recently-completed geothermal resource assessment report for the Kibiro hot springs geothermal prospect in western Uganda (Alexander et al., 2016). This report was prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). As part of their initiative to promote geothermal resource development and utilization in East Africa, UNEP has implemented the GEF-funded African Rift Geothermal Development Facility Project (ARGeo). One of ARGeo’s primary components is to provide technical and financial assistance for surface exploration studies for the ARGeo member countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda).

Geothermal Energy Development in Uganda: A Country Update 2012

2012

Exploration for geothermal energy in Uganda has been in progress since 1993. The studies have focused on three major geothermal areas namely Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro. The three areas are in advanced stages of surface exploration and will soon be subjected to exploratory drilling that will pave the way for a feasibility study. The overall objective of the study is to develop the country’s geothermal energy resource in order to complement hydro and other sources of power to meet the energy demand especially in the rural areas. Recent works carried out included geological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical surveys in order to elucidate subsurface temperatures and the spatial extent of the geothermal resource. The results indicate that the geothermal activity in the three areas is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities of the Rift Valley, which has a higher thermal gradient than the surrounding Precambrian crust. Subsurface temperatures of approximately 140-200˚C for K...

Geothermal Exploration Strategies, Uganda’s Case Study

2016

Uganda is endowed with geothermal energy resources related to extensional tectonics and high heat flow areas. It lies in area on stretched and fault-broken rocks (rift valley). The intra-continental rift is favourable target for geothermal resources. Timeline for geothermal exploration has stretched far dating back as far as 1954 when first swallow wells were drilled in Buranga. It appears without a good understanding of the geology of an area, exploration is merely guesswork. You have recognize the importance of having and following a strategy to minimize cost and maximize success in exploring for and evaluating geothermal resources. It is important to determine which of the techniques used for geothermal exploration did not succeed and which was successful. We have reviewed the geology of geothermal resources in Uganda and come out with an exploration strategy. The Western rift, the western branch of the East African rift system (EARS), is bordered by high angle normal fault syste...

Geothermal Energy in Uganda, Country Update

2003

Recent studies on the Uganda geothermal systems have focused on three geothermal prospects, Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro, all located in the tectonically active and Recent volcanic belt in the Western Rift valley along the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Geothermal systems and saline and fresh water lakes characterize the Rift Valley. The three areas were chosen for study because of their volcanic and tectonic features that indicate a powerful heat source and high permeability. The objective is to develop geothermal energy as an alternative energy source to hydro and others to meet the energy demand of rural areas in sound environment. The geology and geochemistry results for the surface hot springs indicate that potential geothermal systems exist at depth. The subsurface temperatures of 160-200°C, 200°C, and above 200°C for the Katwe, Buranga and Kibiro prospects, respectively, have been inferred by geothermometry and mixing models. These temperatures are suitab...