In the year 2000, leaders laid out an ambitious plan – Vision 2020 – to transform Rwanda from an agrarian to a knowledge-based economy.

Part of the ways to achieve this was to invest in infrastructure development in order to turn around the socio-economic conditions by accelerating access to electricity by the population, improving connection to transport networks, facilitating urbanization and access to affordable housing, as well as investing in water provision and sanitation improvement.

As curtains fall on Vision 2020, paving way for another equally ambitious development and transformation agenda – Vision 2050 – it is important to reflect the journey made over the last 20 years.

Energy

In order to achieve sustainable economic growth, the energy sector is essential as an input to the country’s development.

The government has directed its efforts towards increasing electricity access with focus to grid connections and off-grid connections.

Electricity generation continues to be a priority to meet demand while maintaining the 15 per cent reserve margin.

The 2016/17 Integrated Household Living Survey (EICV5) results reveal that 79.9 per cent of households depend on biomass for cooking and a few others rely on other forms of fuel for cooking.

In the petroleum subsector the plan is to increase the current 84million liters capacity and storage of at least three months reserve.

Generation

The government seeks to increase electricity generation capacity to 556 megawatts by 2024 from the current 224.58 megawatts.

Among the major projects in the pipeline that will contribute, include Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project, Hakan peat to Power Project, Shema Methane Gas Project, Ruzizi III Hydro Power Plant project and Nyabarongo II.

Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower

The 80 megawatts Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project, worth $470 million, is shared between Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. It is jointly funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank. 

The World Bank contributed $340 million, while $130 million funding for the construction of the transmission lines and substations was contributed by the African Development Bank and extended to the three countries.

The project started in March 2017 and is expected to be completed by July 2021.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, overall project progress for the plant is estimated at 56 per cent and transmission line construction is estimated at 30 per cent.

Hakan project

This project is a public-private partnership project between Hakan Madencilik Ve Elektrik Uretim San and the Government of Rwanda. The peat to power project, will generate electricity from peat extracted in the South Akanyaru Peat Prospect located in Gisagara District.

The plant is expected to be commissioned in June 2020 and will generate 80 megawatts. Currently construction of the project is at overall progress of 95%. 

Ruzizi III

Ruzizi III is shared by Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plan once constructed it is expected to generate more than 147 megawatts of electricity, which will be shared equally amongst the three participating countries with Rwanda getting at least 47 megawatts.

The Project is expected to start by October 2021 and completed by October 2025.

Nyabarongo II

In February 2020, the Government of Rwanda and the Chinese Government signed a loan agreement worth $214 million (over Rwf200 billion) for the construction of Nyabarongo II Hydropower Project.

The project is made of three main parts, namely a 43.5 MW Hydro power plant, a Substation and 110KV transmission line covering 19.2 km from the Power Plant (between Kamonyi and Gakenke districts) to Rulindo sub-station.

Once completed, the plant is expected to increase the power generation capacity and further improve power stability on the national grid.

Geothermal development

Rwanda’s geothermal prospects lie within the western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley.

The geothermal manifestations of temperatures above 100°C were identified in 1983 from both the Western Province (in Rubavu and Bugarama) and Northern Province (in areas of Kinigi and Karisimbi).

Following these discoveries, a Reconnaissance Study, Surface Exploration, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) were done.

So far, exploration drilling has only been done at Karisimbi prospect with recommendations not to proceed due to limited evidence of high temperatures to generate power.

Currently, there are surface exploration studies are being carried out in Gisenyi and Bugarama prospects through the support of European Union (EU).

Access to electricity

The current access to electricity is at 54 per cent of which on grid is at 39 per cent while off-grid energy represents 15 per cent.

Rwanda targets universal access to electricity by 2024 with 52 per cent on-grid and 48 per cent off-grid. This includes all productive use areas such as industrial parks, artisan centres, trading centres, schools, health centres and factories among others.

For this to be realised, a national electrification plan (NEP)—which highlights details of areas that are currently electrified and those that haven’t was developed and is presently being implemented as the electrification is rolled out country wide..

Network

Rwanda’s transmission network is made of 220kV, 110kV, 70kV and 30kV. Government is currently investing in strengthening much of the network countrywide. Here are some of the existing networks:

1. Recently completed projects