A Delegation of TÜBİTAK MAM Earth and Marine Sciences Institute (EMSI) visited Uganda as a continuation of bilateral talks, which started in 2015, for developing areas of cooperation between TÜBİTAK MAM and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. The Director of the Earth and Marine Sciences Institute Prof. Abdullah Karaman, Assoc. Prof. Serdar Özalaybey and Dr. Ümit Avşar visited Uganda on 10-16 January 2016.
The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) applied to Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for financial support for a project that aims the use of renewable resources in energy production. The purpose of the visit was the preliminary discussions on the feasibility of geothermal energy resources of Uganda to exploit for energy production. Accordingly, firstly the president of UNCST Dr. Theresa Sengooba and her colleagues, then Undersecretary of Finance Minister Betty Kasimbazi and Education, Science, Technology and Sports Minister Prof. Dr. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa were visited.
The delegation of EMSI made observations on geothermal fields (hot springs, lake craters) in Buranga and Katwe located in the East African Rift (Afar Rift) system with experts from the newly established Geothermal Resources Department under the Ministry of Energy during a two-day technical trip. The EMSI delegation shared their impressions and suggestions with the UNCST authorities during and after the trip. This visit ended with a decision of holding a trilateral meeting, including the officers of the IDB, which will take place in March 2016 to discuss the details of project and finance models.
