Rwanda Energy Group (REG) has assured that Rwanda’s energy generation is well-equipped to support the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and both current and future energy demands. The group highlights that while the shift to electric vehicles will increase electricity demand, the country's energy generation plans and ongoing projects are set to meet future needs. Geoffrey Zawadi, a director at REG, said that Rwanda’s electricity supply currently meets demand. Annual demand is projected at 12 per cent, driven by EV adoption, industrialization, agricultural modernization, and energy transition efforts. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.5bn to achieve universal energy access by 2029 “Rwanda is prepared to meet rising electricity demand, including the boom in EV adoption, thanks to current capacity, reserves, and projects like the 43MW Nyabarongo II plant, ensuring a reliable power supply through ongoing expansion efforts,” Zawadi said. Call for more EV charging stations and decrease in outages Jean Pierre Dusengimana, a taxi motorcyclist based in Kimironko, supports efforts to cut carbon emissions but urges authorities to expand EV charging stations to all parts of the country, highlighting challenges for operators outside Kigali. We understand that EVs are cheaper to charge and maintain compared to fuel-powered vehicles. However, many taxi-moto operators live or travel outside Kigali and may struggle with limited access to charging stations, Dusengimana said. We urge the government to establish EV charging stations in rural and remote areas, not just in Kigali, so that we can travel further without concern. To tackle this challenge, Zawadi said that the Ministry of Infrastructure was developing a master plan to increase EV charging stations, focusing on rural areas, so that no vehicle would need to travel more than 50 km without access to a charging station. ALSO READ: SP, Kabisa to roll out EV charging stations across Rwanda While concerns exist about the pace of stakeholder mobilization and the spread of charging stations across the country, we are actively collaborating with partners to address these challenges and meet the growing demand, Zawadi said. We have several initiatives in place to guide investors in developing efficient charging infrastructure, ensuring stations are not left idle or outdated. Our master plan focuses on determining the required number of charging stations nationwide, prioritizing high-density and high-road traffic areas and making use of existing petrol stations and commercial buildings. Valentine Ahishakiye, a resident of Nyamagabe District, acknowledged the reduction in power outages especially during rain seasons but expressed concern that the government should focus on the lack of sufficient investment in electricity connectivity rate. REG acknowledges the rising demand for electricity, reporting that the total power generation over the past 12 months has surpassed 1.4 million MWh, compared to just over 1.3 million MWh in the previous year. ALSO READ: Investing in energy to achieve universal access As of 2024, Rwanda's electricity connectivity rate stood at 82 per cent, according to REG. The average number of outages decreased to 15.4 times in 2023-2024, down from 21.7 times in 2022-2023. Infrastructure development is ongoing, with the government working with key partners like the African Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the World Bank to expand the electricity transmission and distribution network. Additionally, a proposal for a new electricity law, including new technologies in the energy sector, is under review, and several distribution projects are progressing nationwide.
