CSEP SIGNS MOU WITH UGANDA MINISTER OF ENERGY FOR 500 MW -- PRESS RELEASE

CLEANSOURCE ENERGY PARTNERS-UGANDA SECURES MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR POWER PRODUCTION OFFTAKE FROM MINISTER OF ENERGY

CleanSource Energy Partners (CSEP)-Uganda announced today that it has secured a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from the Ugandan Minister of Energy for electricity to be produced on all three concession areas held by the company, which total approximately 400 square kilometers.

“We are thankful to the minister, her office and the attorney general who has blessed this MOU for their continued support of our impending projects, and the transparency by which all business has been conducted”, said Mark T. Haarer, Managing Partner of CSEP-Uganda.  “By approving this MOU our company has reached another milestone in what we like to consider a true partnership with the Ugandan people, a partnership that will bring much needed reliable, renewable geothermal energy to homes and businesses across this beautiful country”.

CSEP-Uganda has worked hard to secure concessions in the following areas:  Rwagimba (western Uganda), Obongi and Amuru Attiti.  The company has retained the services of  Bowman Geothermal, a division of leading U.S. engineering firm Bowman Consulting. The company will be conducting all of the field analysis and overseeing all drilling activity throughout the feasibility phase of development.   “We are seeing tremendous energy capability being created around the world with geothermal solutions,” said Justin Mahlmann, executive in charge of Bowman’s geothermal practice. “Clients continue to reach out to us to learn more about how they can leverage geothermal capabilities, and Bowman is proud to partner with CSEP-Uganda and the people of Uganda on this project.”

CSEP-Uganda is also discussing with a number of Solar PV firms, the potential of installing solar panels to first supply its own operations, selling all additional energy produced to Uganda.  “We believe there is a case to be made for solar production given the proximity of these concessions to the equator, and the stated willingness of the Ugandan government to work on securing a price for energy produced that is attractive to enough to investors,” says Mark T. Haarer, Managing Partner of CleanSource Energy Partners.

The next round of field analysis is in the planning stage.  While CSEP-Uganda is eager to begin building projects and producing energy, it places as a priority the idea of partnership.  “CleanSource Energy Partners-Uganda is a small company with a big heart”, says Ugandan National and CSEP-Uganda Managing Partner, Mbuga Nassour: “I understood and respected from day one that this company places a premium on giving back to the communities where it does business.  In this case, the company has already committed to contribute 10 percent of all net revenues – through local CSEP-Uganda Community Advisory Councils – to bettering or expanding on the needs of communities in these concession areas.”

CleanSource Energy Partners is a San Diego, California (U.S.A) based company specializing in ground source heat exchange and geothermal power development.

Please call Mark Haarer in San Diego, California for more information:

 +011-760-791-6707

or

Contact Mr. Mbuga Nassour:

+256-772-400-852

CSEP PRESENTS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE UGANDAN PEOPLE -- MISSION STATEMENT RELEASED

At CSEP, we seek to distinguish oursleves from other companies by offering a comprehensive set of values and core beliefs that will guide our relationship with the Ugandan people for years to come. 

Please take a few moments to read our Mission Statement, words that will guide our work with government, tribal and community leaders.

CSEP-UGANDA MISSION STATEMENT

The following represents CleanSource Energy Partners-Uganda’s core beliefs

and commitments to the Ugandan people

Ø      Appreciation:  CleanSource Energy Partners (CSEP)-Uganda is mindful that its presence in this country and concession of land is a gift from the Ugandan people in their effort to provide energy access to every corner of the “Pearl of Africa”.  We recognize that the concession areas granted CSEP are owned by the Ugandan people, and that CSEP-Uganda is a mere steward of these lands.

Ø      Partnership – CSEP strives to be recognized not merely as a foreign company, but a partner of the Ugandan people, helping to raise standards of living and secure long term, affordable and reliable energy to its people.

Ø      Giving Back – In partnership with the Ugandan people, CSEP commits to “tithing”, or contributing back to the Ugandan communities where its business is conducted, money to be used for specific needs covering the areas of schools, education and health care.

Ø      Transparency and Openness – CSEP understands the value of openness in its dealings with government, tribal and other community leaders; we pledge to be transparent in our communications and decision-making processes in order to ensure trust and valuable long term relationships.

Ø      Cultural Sensitivity – Every effort will be made to respect and promote the cultural sensitivities of communities – and tribal leaders – when developing projects; CSEP desires to receive constant communication and information on local traditions and practices so that every project successfully reflects that input.

Ø      Environmental and Wildlife Protection – Uganda is a beautiful and resourcefully-rich country, and CSEP is committed to both protecting and enhancing the value of the land and the wild creatures that roam its mountains and streams.  Working with existing, results-oriented organizations as well as local communities, CSEP is prepared to take a leadership role among foreign companies in protecting these critical resources.

Ø      Voice to America – As the partnership between CSEP and the Ugandan people deepens, the company will work to communicate the value of investing in Uganda and its people. 

CleanSource Energy Partners-Uganda thanks the people of this country for sharing their precious resources and trusting in our stewardship of them.

Uganda Projects Taking Shape

CSEP is proud to announce that it now has three concessions in Uganda totaling nearly 400 square kilometers.  From the Fort Portal area to Adjumani District, we have established a foothold for exploration and hopefully development of these potentially abundant geothermal resource properties.

We thank the Ugandan government for their trust and support as we began our feasibility work this month.  CSEP has retained the services of Bowman Geothermal, a subsidiary of Bowman Consulting headquartered in Manassas, Virginia.  We we were joined in Uganda by Bowman's Ken Bannister (pictured here and flanked by James Natukunda and Isa Lugayizi of Uganda Geology & Mines), Senior Hydrogeologist.  Ken worked closely with the focused and supportive staff of Uganda Geology & Mines in kicking off our intial review of existing data and analysis of the concession areas.

  

We are pleased with our initial findings and are now preparing for a six to seven month intensive study of the area's geothermal potential.



Our vision is to provide the Ugandan government with a new clean and reliable source of energy.  We believe that the concession areas will yield a significant geothermal resource.  At the same time we plan to explore the potential for solar technologies as an additive resource.  CSEP plans to squeeze every potential kilowatt hour of electricity out of the concession areas as granted by the central government.

Rwagimba Concession View

Our incentive is a Memorandum of Understanding between the energy ministry and CSEP to purchase all of the power produced at each of the three concession areas.

While the government mnisitries and staff in Kampala and Entebbe have been ideal working partners, we are also humbled by the acceptance we have received at the local level: from tribal chiefs to county heads of government CSEP has established the beginning of long and productive working relationships.  We feel very welcomed, and very much at home.

Of course everywhere we go the children of Uganda greet us with smiles and "Hello Mister".  We shared with them their pictures and videos, but a few we treasure as they radiate a happiness we witnessed everywhere: 



We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the people of Uganda.  We believe there is a bright future in store...

More soon.  Please check in.

Uganda Travels -- September

This September CSEP secured site control of two properties in Uganda.

CSEP-Kasese/Kaberole

The first is located in western Uganda, straddling the Kasese and Kaberole district borders.  More specifically, this property sits just north of the town of Fort Portal.

The second property is located in northwest Uganda in the Obongi District / Yumbe.

CSEP is pleased to be a partner with our Ugandan business associate, Mr. Mbuga Nassour.

We met in Fort Portal with a stellar team of geologists from the Ugandan Department of Geological Survey and Mines.  Traveling on motorcycle to the hilly project location, we sampled the hot springs on site and hiked the mountainous but geothermally rich area.  Following results of these surface examinations, we plan to begin phase one development which entails subsurface drilling and taking of core samples to confirm the makeup of these potential wells.  We will have equipment on the ground once we finalize our project financing.

M. Haarer and M. Nassour

We are excited at the opportunity to provide power to the Ugandan Transmission Authority.  We have secured off take commitments as well as transmission access.  Because only 13 percent of Ugandans have access to electricity, these kinds of projects are needed desperately.

Our view of Uganda is very positive.  I would recommend to anyone considering traveling to Uganda that they place this destination on their itinerary.  While there is great poverty and an unacceptable mortality rate, the people of this great country are -- without exception -- among the most welcoming and warm anywhere.

We greatly appreciate the professionalism of key ministry officials with whom we are dealing, and their commitment to bringing power to the people.

That is, electricity....

Finally, we were struck by the beauty of the kids. They greeted everywhere with smiles, often yelling: "Hello.  How are You?  I am fine!" 

They enjoyed the exchange greatly.  So did we.

These two sisters emerged on a hill.  When I showed them their picture they could not resist a smile...

More soon.

Welcome to CleanSource Energy Partners!

Since February 2012, CleanSource Energy Partners (CSEP) has attained incredible success in early stage project development.   With recent government surveys confirming abundant geothermal resources, and letters of intent from off-take parties, we are moving quickly to the next critical phase of project development.

Opportunities include hundreds of megawatts of geothermal energy development.  However, our expertise in creating microgrid, or stand alone utilities that can provide community self sufficiency, is also under discussion.  CSEP's Managing Director Terry Mohn knows a thing or two about this subject: as CEO of General Microgrids, Terry is a global expert on development of self contained, sustainable utility systems and serves as Chairman of the United Nations Foundation MicroGrid Work Group (58 nation state participation).

 

At CSEP we are far enough advanced on overseas projects that we've begun to entertain investor interest in developing these project.  Each investor has an opportunity to join with CSEP in bringing critically needed power to ever-expanding East African urban and rural communities.

Our success in such a short amount of time is owed to the professional experience of our management team -- representing decades of utility and energy / project development experience.  This in addition to our team in places like Kenya and Uganda. 

[Both Mark and Terry served in different capacities for many years at Sempra Energy.  Mark also serves as General Microgrid's Chief Operating Officer.]

In the U.S., we are working in partnership with project developers to deliver hundreds of megawatts of geothermal power to accessible and available transmission systems, utilizing low-temperature geothermal technologies.  We look forward to announcing that project soon, and it's potential to provide needed renewable energy to regional utilities. 

In addition to the value our team brings in developing geothermal-based power projects, and applying microgrid principles where there is a need and a desire by the host community, CSEP includes experts in sustainable building design.  Our fundamental premise is that true sustainability begins "from the ground up".  In addition to generating power using low temperature geothermal power, CSEP brings expertise in the use of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems for heating and cooling buildings.

GSHP systems are considered by the U.S. Department of Energy as "the most efficient technology available" today.  For more information on GSHP, including project financing, feel free to give us a call.



We look forward to doing great things for those who are truly in need of clean, reliable power.  Our sweet spot is in those areas where there is a need for community based power with favorable geothermal resource availability.  As we are always interested in developing relationships with people and companies that share our vision, we welcome hearing from you.

Check back soon for updates on our progress!