The State Minister in charge of Energy and Water, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, said that the government will cease to use oil powered generators come 2013.

"We are still using the generators because plants which rely on cheaper sources of energy to meet demand such as hydro, methane are under development, while other sources, like geothermal and peat, are still on the exploration phase,” she stressed.

She, however, added that the fuel generators will be retained for back-up, adding that the generators contribute 44.5 % of energy to the national grid.

"Currently there are four in-house hydropower plants producing 22 Megawatts (MW), six micro hydropower plants producing a total of 0.74 MW, and three diesel/heavy fuel oil plants producing 37.8 MW,” she added.

Others are a gas power plant that produces 1.8 MW, and a solar power plant which contributes 0.25 MW.

"We have one power plant we share with DR Congo and Burundi which generates 11 MW, and we import 3.5 MW from DR Congo,” Ruhamya said.

Asked how much is spent on a single generator per day, the minister pointed out that the cost of electricity is dependent on the type of generator.

She stated that currently in Rwanda 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of diesel/Heavy Fuel Oil generator cost Rwf210; 1 kWh of a hydropower generator costs between Rwf 36–60.

1 KWh of methane gas generator costs between Rwf 54 –72, while 1 kWh of solar photovoltaic generator costs Rwf 270.

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