The government is progressing in increasing access to electricity countrywide, especially in rural areas where the majority of Rwandans do not have power for lighting or to run income-generating activities. To increase access to energy, the government started initiatives, like model green villages in different parts of the country, where it promotes use of renewable energy sources. It is also promoting small micro-grids to provide power to people in villages who are not connected to the national power grid. 

However, most residents of model green villages mainly use biogas for cooking and lighting. Though some residents say most biogas systems are weak and cannot be used for cooking, leaving users to resort to kerosene lamps for lighting.

"We use biogas for cooking because we are not connected to the power grid,” Anastase Munyemanzi, a resident of Muyebe village in Muhanga District told The New Times in an earlier interview.

According to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, the lighting component was planned under the biogas project. As a result, residents use kerosene lamps, commonly known as ‘akatadowa’, for lighting.

Munyemanzi called for support so that residents can acquire solar systems for lighting, and to run small income-generating projects, like salons and phone charging businesses.

New campaign kicked off

The Ministry of Infrastructure is expected to launch a new drive this month to help eradicate ‘akatadowa’ by the end of the year. Robert Nyamvumba (pictured above), the energy department manager at the Ministry of Infrastructure, said they are encouraging areas which are not connected to national grid, especially rural areas, to embrace use of solar energy, arguing this can help them save.

"This could help increase their earnings as they will save the money they previously used to spend on kerosene to start income-generating projects. The move will also attract the private sector to invest in solar power solutions,” he said.

He noted that with renewable energy, the health of Rwandans and performance of students will improve since solar energy is not a health hazard and enables school-going children to carry out their preps in a health environment.

Nyamvumba said they are working to create collaboration with districts and private investors to ensure the campaign achieves its objective – eradicating use of kerosene lamps or candles for lighting. He said the partnership with the private sector will ensure Rwandans get affordable and quality solar power systems. He added that they will work out a win-win deal for buyers and investors, where payments will be made in flexible installments. The national awareness campaign will encourage Rwandans to abandon ‘akatadowa’ and embrace solar energy and other renewable energy sources.

Ignite Power and Mobisol have already agreed to participate in the campaign and provide solar equipment at affordable rates with flexible payments terms. Other players will soon come on board, with the aim of having at least one dealer per district. He said Ignite Power, a Mauritian company, will supply solar systems to 250,000 rural households. Payments for the systems will be spread over two years, and the firm is expected to invest over $50 million in the next five years, he added.

"The government targets to connect at least 70 per cent of households to electricity by 2018 and 22 per cent on off-grid power sources and mini-hydropower plants. We are targeting universal power access by 2020,” he said.

Of the 24 per cent people with access to electricity, only one per cent use solar (off-grid), he said, adding that off-grid energy is expected to increase to 10 per cent by 2018.

Mobisol, the other solar systems vendor, presently has more than 10,000 subscribers. The firm focuses on rural communities to boost government efforts in rural electrification programme.

Ivan Ntwali, the firm’s sales and marketing manager, said their target is to connect a minimum of 2,500 households per month.

"We are supporting the campaign to eradicate kerosene lamps and candles because they produce toxic smoke that affects people’s health apart from causing fire accidents that claim lives,” he said.

A household can pay for the equipment in manageable installments for a period of three years or pays Rwf399 a day. This amount is almost equal to what people spend on kerosene and candles daily. Payments are made using mobile money service.

Experts say besides draining household earnings, or endangering the health of users due to indoor air pollution, kerosene lamps and candles emit greenhouse gases that fuel climate change.

According to 2014 research ‘Respiratory risks from household air pollution in low and middle-income countries by ‘The Lancet Respiratory Medicine’ journal, more than three million people a year died in 2010 due to respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, asthma, and lung cancer due to air pollution from energy used to cook, heat, and lighting homes. The mostly affected are poor women and children in Asia and Africa.

According to United Nations Foundations, globally, more than 1.2 billion people do not have access to electricity.

As a result, they are forced to burn expensive and polluting fuels for their basic lighting needs that kill an estimated four million people per year. This lack of clean energy services stifles income-generating activities and hampers the provision of basic services such as health care and education, according to experts.Renewable energy users speak out

Faustin Misago, a resident of Karuhembe cell in Mahama sector, Kirehe District, said his family was using ‘katadowa’ until January 14 when he acquired solar system. He said besides providing lighting for the family, he uses it to power income-generating activities. He said the 100-watt system has nine lamps, and he will pay for it in installments for three years.

"I use it to charge residents mobile phones (30 per day), which generates Rwf3,000 daily. It also powers my salon,” he said in a telephone interview. Misago said previously, the family used about Rwf150 a day on kerosene and candles. This would double during days the children were doing homework at night.

business@newtimes.co.rw