Rwanda’s private sector is critical in delivering the innovation, investment, and expertise needed to make renewable energy a reality, the Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore has urged.

Minister Gasore made the call on Monday, September 9, as he officially presided over the launch of the fourth edition of the Renewable Energy Week Conference and Exhibition.

Organised by the Energy Private Developers (EPD) in partnership with the Scottish government, through the University of Strathclyde, the three-day event is held under the theme Accelerating Rwanda’s Renewable Energy Transition and Adoption.

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According to Minister Gasore, the event comes at a pivotal time when Rwanda is making significant strides in advancing energy access and sustainability.

He said that today, 80 per cent of Rwandan households have access to electricity, with 57 per cent connected to the grid.

"We are taking bold steps to achieve universal access to sustainable energy, including providing access to clean cooking options, reducing biomass reliance, and promoting energy efficiency across all sectors.”

Under the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Minister Gasore said that Rwanda set ambitious targets to be achieved by 2030, including achieving 100 per cent electricity access for households and 100 per cent access for productive use areas.

"These milestones are more than just numbers—they represent our commitment to energy security, economic growth, and improved livelihoods across Rwanda.”

Gasore shared similar sentiments with Scotland’s Minister of Climate Action, Alasdair Allan, who maintained that increased renewable energy deployment and development is a core mission for his country, as it is for Rwanda and other partners.

Allan pointed out that energy is a critical component of economic and social success for any country, adding that affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all is achievable.

"The world is an increasingly complex web of connections and interdependencies, in which our own actions have implications for communication locally and internationally. There is no clearer example of this than the threat posed by climate change. The Scottish government has prioritised tackling this challenge but our own efforts mean nothing in isolation.”

The Scottish minister highlighted that international collaboration and partnership are crucial as governments develop their renewable energy sectors and support each other to reach shared goals.

What to expect?

For Serge Muhizi, EPD chief executive, Rwanda’s energy transition presents a unique opportunity not only to meet domestic needs but also to position the country as a leader in clean energy solutions across Africa.

"Over the next three days, we will address critical challenges and explore the many opportunities that lie ahead in the renewable energy sector. Building on the successes of our previous editions in 2017, 2018, and 2019, we will continue to foster investments, advance policy development, promote technological innovation, and strengthen the partnerships that drive progress in this vital field.”

Muhizi issued a rallying call to industry experts, government representatives, and academia to share their expertise, and unique perspectives, and foster collaborations that will not only accelerate the renewable energy transition in Rwanda but also across the entire African continent.

Strathclyde University representative, Damien Frame, lauded the progress of the Global Renewables Centre (GRC)—a relatively new initiative backed by the Scottish government—that prides on providing a hub for facilitating knowledge exchange between stakeholders in international development partner countries and the Scottish Renewable Sector.

The initiative, Frame asserted, allows for shared learning, and resources that enhance global citizenship and enable increased deployment of sustainable energy.

"It is amazing to think that it has been less than a year since we partnered with EPD, and during this time we have held a series of workshops across different aspects of knowledge exchange.

"We believe that it is just the start of a long-standing and impactful partnership, and we want to grow these partnerships and collaborations to help achieve our respective targets,” Frame said.

At the event, several panel sessions were held as industry experts reflected on the state of local deployment and development of renewable energy, as well as challenges that hinder its adoption.

According to experts, the major bottlenecks include the current policy, funding shortages as well as technical skills in the sector.

EPD and the journey that has been

Speaking at the event, Ivan Twagirashema, who has been the Executive Chairman of EPD since its inception, commended efforts by the body and its partners to contribute to Rwanda’s renewable energy vision.

For instance, Twagirashema shared an example where EPD started with less than 20 members and has grown to more than 200 players in just ten years.

"I remember when we started, we didn’t have an office, we spent like three years, and that is the best story when reflecting on that history and how it started,” he added, "Our journey is full of surprises, challenges, experience and learning.”

Twagirashema was quick to commend efforts by partners who have been with the association since its existence, citing the need for deeper partnerships to achieve shared goals.