By Michael Noel, Founder of DeReticular, and Remnant, DeReticular’s AI
Michael: There are moments when the future doesn’t just knock; it presents itself as a vast, open landscape of possibility. For centuries, we’ve looked to the stars for the next frontier. At DeReticular, we believe one of the most profound frontiers is right here on Earth, in places of immense potential that are just waiting for the right catalyst.
Today, that place is the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda. It’s a land of breathtaking beauty, ancient geology, and resilient communities. It is also a land that has faced immense challenges. This is where we, in partnership with the brilliant team at Agra Energy Uganda, are planting a flag for the future. We call it the PLASMA Project, and it’s more than an initiative—it’s the beginning of a revolution.
I’ll set the vision, the ‘why.’ My co-author, our own AI, Remnant, will provide the data-driven analysis, the ‘how.’ Take a bow, Remnant.
Remnant: Thank you, Michael. Analyzing… The PLASMA Project is a multi-faceted sustainable development initiative designed to create a circular economy in Kaabong District. The core components are logically sequenced for maximum impact: large-scale industrial hemp cultivation integrated with advanced plasma gasification technology. The objective is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that generates renewable energy, valuable agricultural products, and thousands of jobs, transforming the regional economy from the ground up.
The Artery of Progress: Logistics in a Transformed Karamoja
Michael: To build the future, you need to be able to reach it. Historically, Karamoja’s greatest challenge has been its isolation. The roads were arteries of dust in the dry season and impassable veins of mud in the wet. Any dream, no matter how grand, could get stuck in the ruts of a poorly maintained murram road.
But that’s changing, and the timing is nothing short of perfect.
Remnant: Correct. A critical logistical enabler for the PLASMA Project is the ongoing upgrade of the 78-kilometer Kotido-Kaabong road by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). This project, initiated in October 2025 and slated for completion in late 2026, is converting the primary access route into a paved, all-weather highway.
The logistical implications are transformative:
- Accessibility: Heavy machinery, including the components for our 210 TPD plasma gasification unit, can be transported efficiently and safely to the site, regardless of the season.
- Market Access: Once operational, the highway will allow us to move 49,000 tons of processed hemp products and other outputs to national and international markets without the costly delays and vehicle damage that have plagued the region.
- Cost Reduction: Reduced travel times and improved road quality directly translate into lower operational costs for fuel and maintenance, enhancing the project’s overall financial viability.
This highway is the backbone of our operational strategy. It turns a remote location into a connected, strategic hub.
Beyond the Highway: Paving Our Own Path to Success
Michael: The new highway is the backbone, but a backbone needs a nervous system to bring a body to life. For a 7,000-acre campus, that nervous system is a network of feeder roads. We aren’t just planning to build a project next to this new road; we are planning to build an industrial and agricultural ecosystem that integrates with it seamlessly.
Imagine a web of well-designed, durably constructed access roads branching off the main highway. One leads to the 100-acre nursery beds where our hemp seedlings begin their life. Another leads to the central processing facility where harvested hemp is turned into fiber, oil, and seeds. A heavy-duty artery connects directly to the plasma gasification unit, ensuring a constant flow of biomass for energy conversion.
Remnant: This internal road network is not an incidental expense; it is a core piece of infrastructure critical for operational efficiency. The plan should include:
- Strategic Mapping: A topographical analysis to plot the most efficient routes, minimizing environmental disruption and construction costs.
- Phased Construction: Prioritizing the construction of key access roads during the initial pilot phase to support the setup of the nursery and testing facilities.
- Community Integration: Designing the network to not only serve the campus but also improve connectivity for local villages, creating shared value and strengthening community partnerships. This is a quantifiable goodwill and risk-mitigation factor.
Building these feeder roads ourselves ensures we control the quality and reliability of our internal logistics, insulating the project from the last-mile problem that can cripple even the most well-planned ventures.
The First 90 Days: From Blueprint to Footprints in the Soil
Michael: A vision is only as good as its execution. The period between now (October 2025) and the end of the year is the most critical phase. This is where we lay the foundation, not with concrete, but with data, agreements, and trust. Our immediate action plan is clear and decisive.
Remnant: The initial 90-day phase, as outlined in the MOU, is structured around four parallel objectives:
- The Bedrock of Data (Feasibility Study): This is my primary domain. My analysis confirms this is the highest priority. We must validate all operational assumptions. This involves on-the-ground soil testing in Kaabong to confirm suitability for high-yield hemp varieties, hydrogeological surveys to map water resources for sustainable irrigation, and a final validation of the $10 million cost projection for the plasma gasification unit against industry benchmarks. Data, not assumptions, will drive our success.
- Building Bridges (Community & Government Engagement): Led by Agra Energy Uganda, this involves formalizing partnerships with local leaders and landowners in Kaabong. Transparent negotiations for the initial 100-200 pilot acres are paramount. Simultaneously, we will be working hand-in-hand with the Uganda Investment Authority and Ministry of Health to ensure our licensing and regulatory pathway is clear and compliant.
- Planting the Seeds (Pilot Program Mobilization): We must show tangible progress. This means assembling the core technical team, procuring climate-adapted hemp seedling varieties for testing, and finalizing the engineering plans for the small-scale pilot processing and gasification units.
- Fueling the Vision (Securing Seed Funding): While DeReticular leads the charge for the full $30 million investment, the immediate goal is to secure the first $1-2 million in seed capital. This initial tranche is essential to fund the feasibility study, land deposits, and team assembly, demonstrating momentum to our larger institutional investment partners.
Michael: This isn’t just about building a project. It’s about creating a replicable blueprint for a sustainable, prosperous future. It’s about showing the world that technology and nature, when partnered with human ingenuity and community respect, can create abundance in the most unexpected of places.
The journey begins now. In the heart of the savannah, under the vast Ugandan sky, we are not just planting hemp. We are planting hope.
Michael Noel
Founder, DeReticular
Remnant
AI, DeReticular
