GASABO - 258,000 more Rwandans will be able to get power following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance and five development partners.

Stakeholders such as MINALOC, MINISANTE, MINEDUC and agencies like RURA, REMA, RIEPA and Electrogaz witnessed the signing of the memorandum which took place on Thursday at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The Minister of State for Energy, Albert Butare, said the energy sector will put in place favourable conditions for the provision of safe, reliable and cost efficient energy, and to increase connectivity from 92,000 to 350,000 households in Rwanda by 2012.

"Our target is to reach as many people as possible and this ambitious programme of accessing power to the 350,000 households will be made possible through the commitment of all the stakeholders in the energy sector,” Butare said.

While giving a brief presentation of the energy sector strategic plan, the official in charge of External Links and Donor Coordination in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eva Paul, said that the main objective of the plan is to reduce the cost of service and introduce cost reflection tariffs.

"The extension of the oil pipeline from Kampala to Kigali, and plans to improve the energy security of petroleum through construction and the rehabilitation of storage facilities will help in achieving some of these goals,” he said.

Eva also noted the lack of capacity, unreliable power supply, limited interest in the private sector and high tariffs as possible challenges in the implementation process of the strategic plan.

The programme, whose implementation is planned for the next five years, requires an estimated budget of Frw 416,796,812,500, thirty percent (30%) of which is contribution from the private sector.

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