KIGALI - The Urgent Electricity Rehabilitation Project (UERP) was officially closed it doors yesterday during a function held at Laico Hotel in Kacyiru, Kigali.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Marie Claire Mukasine, who presided over the event, hailed the project for the contributions it played towards extending electricity to various parts of the country.

"UERP came when we had problems of power shortages everywhere in the country. We congratulate it for the great job it performed because it has been a solution to the power shortage,” Mukasine said.

She said that the objectives of the project have been achieved adding that it has been a success due to the team spirit of the project’s management.

She however asked the Management of Rwanda Electricity Corporation and Rwanda Water and Sanitation Company (RECO-RWASCO) to maintain the equipment set up by UERP saying it would promote sustainable electricity in the country.

Felix Gakuba, the UERP Coordinator, said that the project begun its activities in the country in 2005.
He revealed that the whole project cost an estimated $50 million.

Last year, UERP completed the construction of a power plant with a capacity of 20Megawatt in Jabana Sector in Gasabo District and five transmission stations in various parts of the country.

Gakuba said that the objectives of the project were to alleviate power shortage, enhance the capacities of the energy sector institutions, financing training and technical assistance for Electrogaz, Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority (RURA) and Mininfra.    

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