bidder, the consortium led by SK Energy of South Korea, to construct the refinery. When those talks broke down in July 2016, Uganda began talks with the reserve bidder, the consortium led by SK Engineering & Construction of South Korea. In August 2017, negotiations with the consortium led by SK Engineering & Construction also broke down. Negotiations were then started with a new consortium led by Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group, a Chinese company. Those talks collapsed in June 2017 when CPECC, the main contractor in the consortium, pulled out of the talks. In August 2017, Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium, a new consortium led by General Electric (GE) of the United States agreed to build the US$4 billion refinery. GE is to own 60 percent, while the government of Uganda and other investors take up the remaining 40 percent. Total SA, has pledged to take up a 10 percent stake in the refinery. In December 2017, Irene Muloni, Uganda's Energy Minister announced that the country planned to join the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), by 2020, when first oil is expected. Solar energy The solar energy resource potential is an estimated 5.1 kilowatt-hours per square meter. To diversify the national energy pool, the Electricity Regulatory Authority in December 2014 licensed two solar power stations, each with capacity to generate 10 megawatts. The stations, Tororo Solar Power Station and Soroti Solar Power Station, were expected to come online no later than December 2015. In December 2016, Soroti Solar Power Station was completed and connected to the national grid. Tororo Solar Power Station was also brought online in October 2017. In January 2019, Kabulasoke Solar Power Station, a 20 megawatt development by a private IPP was commissioned and connected to the national grid. Mayuge Solar Power Station, another 10 megawatts IPP project, that cost USh 41 billion (approx. US$11.3 million), to build, came online in June 2019, bringing total grid-connected solar energy to 50 megawatts nationally. See also Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Electricity Regulatory Authority (Uganda) List of power stations in Uganda Eastern Africa Power Pool Nuclear power in Uganda References External links Electricity Regulatory Authority Ministry of Energy and Minerals Ministry of Energy and Minerals - Data & Information Surplus electricity: Is it a big opportunity or a drawback? As of 19 December 2017. 110 years of electricity in Uganda As of 21 April 2018. Environment of Uganda