KIGALI - The former, Commercial Director of Electrogaz, Yves Muyange, was Saturday introduced as the acting Director General of the water and energy utility.

This follows the resignation of John Milenge who has been Director General since 2005, whose resignation was approved last week by a Cabinet meeting.

In his acceptance speech, Muyange promised excellence and where need be external contractors would be contacted to ease the Electrogaz’s work while ensuring efficiency and accountability.

"We have for example signed contracts with some hardware shops selling equipment that we use and recommend. It means people do not always have to storm our offices for products that can be obtained elsewhere,” said Muyange.

He challenged the public to come up with initiatives of buying the equipment and only call Electrogaz for installation and connection.

"We always have our technicians ready and if you buy your equipment, it will not take more than two days to have power,” he said.

Since its establishment in 1963 Electrogaz  had 70,000 subscribers until Milenge took office in 2005, where they hit a record of 117,000 clients with a set target of adding 250,000 more by 2012.

In his farewell speech, Milenge who resigned saying he was eying entrepreneurship, promised to work more closely with the utility.

"I am still a customer and confidant of Electrogaz and you can call on me at anytime,” said Milenge, who remains a board member.

At the handover ceremony organised at the Electrogaz headquarters in Kigali, the outgoing chief shocked everyone when he offered more than two months to closely work with his successor to help him pick up on the new job.

"I remember while coming to office over three and a half years ago, my predecessor was not even offering a single day to work with me. I am here and so willing to work with Yves for more than two months before he gets used to his new job,” Milenge said before being showered with gifts from former colleagues.

Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, State Minister for Water and Energy, Dr Albert Butare promised support from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Central Government.

He challenged the new leadership to emulate the previous Director General in order to make Electrogaz a profit making and successful company since they have no other competitors in the country.

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