The Government of Rwanda is currently working towards ambitious targets in increasing access to energy, one of the main objectives being to increase access from the current 5% to 16% by 2012.

To achieve this, we will not only have to focus on additional power generation needed to meet the recorded demand, but we also need to ensure that the produced electricity is transported and distributed to as many Rwandans as possible.

First and foremost, very important to consider while working hard to increase access, is the investment in off/isolated grid connections at almost equal level of effort as we invest in the grid connections. 

A typical example is the current micro-hydro scheme in the country, a good part of which is constituted by the isolated independent grids. 

Off-grid solutions become even more a socially and economically sensible option if the distance to the existing transmission network is far and connection to it would prove too costly.

Electricity network

Our national grid, that consists of high, and medium voltage transmission lines and low voltage distribution lines is managed to date by our national power utility; Electrogaz.

This utility is and will continue to play an important role in increasing access to electricity throughout the country. With a helping hand from the Government through MININFRA, Electrogaz is aiming at increasing electricity connections to at least  350.000 consumers by 2012. (today we are at 92,000 connections)!

This will require an extension of the network by approximately 4000 km of transmission and distribution lines, a rehabilitation of the existing network and a reduction of technical as well as commercial losses. This will be achieved through improved technologies and maintenance as well as through tracking attempted fraud by individuals.

Planned Electrogaz activities for 2008 include the connection of about 16.000 new customers, a network extension of 125 km of medium and low voltage lines and the rehabilitation of 281 km of medium and low voltage lines. 
 

Electrogaz is currently supplying stable power to 92.000 customers out of which 80% are using the cash power system which requires prepaying and buying units from Electrogaz vendors. Ultimately the target is to transform the whole system into prepaid connections.

In Kigali, local connections to the distribution network are not only installed by Electrogaz themselves anymore, but currently outsourced to the private sector in a test phase. Whereas in the long run, Electrogaz is aiming at gradually transferring distribution networks to the private investors, just as it is now for the generation, the transmission network will remain public until that time studies prove its social and economic viability to both the sponsors and the consumers.

Cooperation with STEG

In our concerted efforts to reach more clients at the least cost, we are happy to have found the Tunisian power utility STEG, a reliable and experienced partner who can advise us on technological, logistic and financial issues. STEG has been extremely successful in reaching a connection rate to the grid of more than 99,5% in Tunisia through the development of very innovative and least cost technical options.

For example, the use of  single phase lines instead of three phase lines is one of such innovations. They will also assist Electrogaz in minimizing technical losses and improve their management and maintenance capacity.

The partnership will start with a pilot programme to electrify 3000 households in Nyagatare from July 2008 onwards.

Mapping our grid

Besides improving technology and management, it is necessary to develop sound data bases and accompanying maps for the country and exact location of all parts of our national network.

This massive exercise is currently undertaken by GIS Unit that works with Electrogaz technicians on taking exact geographical GPS led coordinates.

This data is then processed into digital geo-referenced maps which will show us all Electrogaz transmission lines.

The maps will then be complemented by different layers of other data, like the location of all health centres, administrative centres, imidugudu settlements, schools, all potential micro hydro power sites and later on also the potential wind power sites.

One more layer will be fed by data on the distribution of the population all over the country. This will actually allow us to find out how many people could potentially be able to benefit from the grid, because we can clearly see the grid lines and how many people live along those lines.

Electricity Master Plan

Electricity Master Plan for the whole national network is being finalized. This is a very important strategic document that provides the network status and the requirements for sustaining it following the electricity demand forecast status.

This Master plan is being financed by the African Development Bank. It consists of different elements like the demand forecast which estimates the necessary power generation capacity over the next 15 to 20 years according to the projected growth of electricity demand.

Based on this forecast, the necessary network extensions, or rehabilitations required to ensure the network remains in good order are recommended. This will also tell us which lines and generation units are needed in order to make the network system secure and stable even in case of failure of one of the system components. 

The Master Plan will finally provide cost estimates for the selected options and shall also provide estimates for future investments in the electricity sector. It is from these inputs, financial and others, that will influence the tariff structures.

While developing this scheme local training for Electrogaz staff in all kinds of planning instruments will be conducted. We are expecting the Master Plan to be finalized in all its phases before the end of 2008.
 
National Roll Out Programme

The Ministry in cooperation with the World Bank is working on specifically defining a national roll out programme to increase access to electricity.

This programme will take into consideration all above mentioned initiatives and the produced data and inputs to identify least cost options for connecting the entire country.

This will go hand in hand with reviewing the least cost bulk power generation as well. A network expansion plan will be produced, that will, through a digitised model define which the best and least cost option to electrify every potential social centre, a business undertaking or a household.

This means, wherever the national grid will not reach in the foreseeable future, other options like connecting to an isolated micro hydro grid or relying on solar photovoltaic systems will be chosen.

Solar power will be especially important in electrifying rural schools, health centers and administrative offices far away from the grid.

The Ministry of Infrastructure is working in harmony with the Ministries of Health and Education and also with some development partners involved in solar energy schemes to underscore this initiative.
 
What will emerge from this analysis is a Prospectus that will outline necessary investments and very specific budget lines and will be used to develop an investment plan. This will allow us to define financing gaps and identify mechanisms to raise the necessary funding.

The Prospectus will thus serve as an important document in the Sector Wide Approach in the Energy Sector which brings all the players together in the sector.

The Prospectus is expected to be delivered by the end of this year.

Regional Efforts

Whereas on a national scale Electrogaz with the support of the Government takes care of the transmission and distribution networks, on a regional scale we are working with the East African Community as well as the Nile Basin Initiative to establish a regional network.

Several interconnections will be built with the support of the African Development Bank and will connect Rwanda to Burundi, the DRC and Uganda, and through Uganda and Kenya even further to Ethiopia.

Construction works for this project will start in 2009. It will enable Rwanda to import and export power to and from its neighboring countries.
 
Ends