The Government of Rwanda and the African Development Bank (AfDB) today signed a $US40 million agreement for the construction of 119 km of transmission line from Rusumo to the capital Kigali. The transmission will be connected to Birembo substation in Kinyinya Sector in the urban district of Gasabo District through the proposed Bugesera International Airport substation. The concessional loan has a maturity rate of 40 years with a grace period of 10 years. We cannot transform the economy without electricity, the Minister for Finance, Amb. Claver Gatete, said upon signing the agreement. This support is very crucial to Rwandas pledge of bringing electricity to 70 per cent of households – as opposed to the current 17 per cent – by 2018. AfDBs country representative Negatu Makonnen, who signed on behalf of the bank, added that the support will directly contribute to Rwandas objective of sustained rapid economic growth.
