2015 has been a particularly hard year for electricity and water consumers. While one section suffered a full blown water crisis, the other was dealing with inconsistent power supply. To remedy the energy part of the problem, the government has leased out 22 micro-power projects to seven private investors for a period of 25 years. The private investors will rehabilitate, operate and maintain the facilities for 25 years to boost energy supply. Seven of these plants are already operational while another 15 will be built from scratch. The move comes at a time when the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency announced an increase in the cost of electricity by 35 percent with effect from today to help offset the cost of energy production. That the news of the lease deals between the government and the private entities comes at a time when energy prices have increased to ensure the investment made in generation is recouped through utility sales, should be motivation enough for the investors. This is an opportunity for the private investors, especially those that took on already existing plants, to make the best of the opportunity, inject more money to ensure the energy is on the national grid as soon as possible. The new investments by the private firms into the energy sector will certainly supplement the investments already being pumped into the energy sector by government to ensure the country delivers on its energy targets. If all parties involved in this new venture do their part, everyone will definitely walk away a winner.
