The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) organised an awareness workshop on December 19 to engage various stakeholders, including Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) such as Commercial Bank, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), and Energy Service Companies (ESCs) working in Off Grid solar home systems (OG-SHSs), Clean Cooking (CC), Productive Use of Energy (PUE). Participants from both public and private institutions also participated as key stakeholders in the successful implementation of the “Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT)” project. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the project's objectives and foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure its success. The ASCENT is a $ 400 million Government of Rwanda project funded by the World Bank/International Development Association (IDA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support Rwanda’s goal of achieving universal energy access. The project will be implemented by BRD and Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL). BRD part of the project focuses on increasing access to off-grid electricity, clean cooking solutions, and productive uses of energy (PUE) in 30 districts across the country. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.5bn to achieve universal energy access by 2029 According to Philbert Dusenge, the ASCENT Project Coordinator at BRD, the project will invest $27.5 million (part to be implemented by BRD), focusing on providing off-grid electricity to remote areas, clean cooking solutions, and PUE. He explained that the project operates under a result-based financing model, where contracted ESCs will distribute technologies like solar home systems, PUE technologies, and clean cooking products. The project also offers a line of credit facility to ESCs directly through BRD or on-lending through PFIs. Subsidies will be offered to address the affordability of these technologies, enabling Rwandans to access improved energy solutions that help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions and deforestation, he said. He also highlighted the project’s focus on small businesses, such as restaurants, in transitioning from harmful cooking methods like charcoal to clean cooking technologies. The PUE component will help small businesses access affordable technologies like irrigation systems, which will enable them to continue farming and generate income even when seasonal Rains are inconsistent, Dusenge added. BRD will oversee technical assistance, institutional capacity-building, and project implementation support through its various subcomponents. ALSO READ: 70% of industrial parks operational as gov’t woos more investors The Environmental Risk Management Specialist for the ASCENT project, Lydie Pacifique Igiraneza, emphasised the aims of the project to reduce emissions and improve environmental health while highlighting the importance of grievance redress mechanisms. We anticipate grievances from beneficiaries regarding product malfunctions, eligibility issues, or product non-receipt and to address this, ESCs are required to set up call centres with toll-free numbers to resolve complaints. Additionally, financial institutions involved in the credit facility must also implement grievance mechanisms to address concerns from their clients, she said. Igiraneza also pointed out that the project's distributed products may generate electronic waste (e-waste), which could harm the environment if not properly managed. We have put in place an environmental code of practice to ensure compliance with regulations on safe e-waste management. Only certified entities will handle the collection, treatment, and disposal of e-waste to prevent environmental harm, she stated. She emphasised the need to maximise the positive impacts of the project while minimising any negative effects through careful management of both social grievances and environmental risks. ALSO READ: Lawmakers propose clean cooking solutions for schools to check firewood use Aphrodise Uwiragiye, an Engineering Risk Analysis Specialist at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), believes that the ASCENT project is beneficial as it will enhance staff capacity and improve the quality of inspections. This project will support us in conducting our routine inspections more effectively, ensuring that consumers receive high-quality solar home systems,” he stated. He also emphasised RICA's crucial role in regulating the project while also advising importers to always seek an import permit before bringing products into Rwanda to ensure compliance. No solar home systems can enter Rwanda without RICA inspection and clearance. We ensure that products meet the required standards and regulations, helping to prevent substandard products from entering the market, he added. In his address, Alphonse Kanyandekwe, the acting Director of Engineering and Urban Planning Standards at Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), explained that the ASCENT project aligns with the Government of Rwanda's goal of ensuring universal access to energy. RSB is responsible for developing national standards, providing testing services, and certifying products in the energy sector, including those related to off-grid energy, clean cooking solutions, and productive uses of energy, he said. Kanyandekwe addressed concerns about the turnaround and time for results, emphasising that their lab is one of the few in the region capable of conducting these tests, which has improved efficiency despite the high volume of samples received. In the past, testing could take up to eight months due to the complexity of tests required for cooking solutions, such as thermal efficiency and emissions. However, recent improvements have reduced the turnaround time from eight months to about two months, he added.
