KIGALI - The persistent power cuts in the country are due to ongoing repairs on existing power supply plants, the national electricity and water utility, RECO-RWASCO has announced.

The Managing Director of RECO-RWASCO, Yves Muyange, told The New Times that they are currently upgrading the national power infrastructure, a process that has led to the power cuts.

He further blamed the power cuts on lack of regulatory system on the amount of power supplied to the country by the regional power supplier, Société International d’Electricite des Pays des Grands Lacs (SINELAC).

SINELAC, which supplies power to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is supposed to supply 12MW to Rwanda.

"SINELAC supplies 12MW to Rwanda; however when it is overloaded, it instead shuts down, which causes the blackouts.” Muyange added.

"The plant’s equipment is old and unable to maintain the supply.” 

He added that in order to solve the problem, SINELAC should install a regulator equipment to stabilize power even when there is an overflow.

Although there was no definite date when this would be solved, Muyange is optimistic that whatever is being done is aimed at upgrading the power supply system.

The RECO boss promised to always notify the public prior to a scheduled power cut.

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