Over the past decade, Rwanda has made significant strides in electricity generation, resulting in a six-fold increase in the number of households in the country gaining access to electricity, according to official data.

Rwanda's installed electricity generation capacity stood at 96 MW in 2010. However, as per data from the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), today, the capacity has steadily grown to 332.6 MW, thanks to various power plants operating across the nation.

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In terms of generation technology, thermal sources account for 51 percent, followed by hydro sources at 43.9 percent, and solar sources contributing 4.2 percent.

This progress has led to substantial gains in energy access. As of the 5th Population and Housing Census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda in August 2022, 61 percent of Rwanda's more than 3.3 million households were connected to electricity.

Of these, 47 percent had access through the national grid, and 14 percent through off-grid systems, primarily utilizing solar power. This is a significant leap from the mere 10 percent of households that had access to electricity in 2010, according to REG data.

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These achievements are attributed to substantial investments made in the energy sector over the past decade, focusing on diversifying and stabilizing power production and supply to meet the nation's energy targets, according to a report from REG.

Rwanda's Energy Generation Capacity Over a Decade

The Ministry of Infrastructure's Energy Sector Strategic Plan for 2018/19 - 2023/24 provides insight into Rwanda's energy generation capacity evolution. In 2010, the electricity generation capacity was 96 MW, which grew to 101 MW in 2011, 112 MW in 2012, and 131 MW in 2013.

Subsequently, the capacity increased to 164 MW in 2014, 192 MW in 2016, and 218 MW in 2017/2018. According to REG's 2019-2020 annual report, the total installed power generation capacity reached 225.8 MW in June 2019, before rising to 228.4 MW in June 2020. It continued to grow to 238.368 MW as of June 2021 and 276 MW as of June 2022, as indicated in subsequent annual reports.

The government's target according to the report is to provide electricity access to all its households and increase its electricity generation capacity to 556 MW by 2024, aligning with the national strategy for transformation (NST1).

Diversification and Off-Grid Connections

According to REG, during the elaboration of the second phase of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction (EDPRS II) program from 2013 through 2018, the Government of Rwanda made a clear policy decision to diversify electricity sources. This decision aimed to expand beyond the traditional dominant grid, incorporating off-grid connections.

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As a result, households located far from the planned national grid coverage were encouraged to utilize cost-effective alternatives such as mini-grids and solar devices to facilitate easier access to electricity.

The Ministry of Infrastructure emphasizes that access to reliable, cost-effective energy is vital for achieving development goals outlined in national strategic documents, including stimulating economic growth. Furthermore, energy is identified as a critical factor in catalyzing broader economic development and contributing significantly to the country's ambitious socioeconomic transformation agenda.