Energy investments key to Rwanda’s development

Editor, I read, in The New Times, this week, a story about a Mauritian firm that has expressed interest in investing in Rwanda’s energy sector. According to the story, the company is planning to construct a plant that will contribute at least 15 megawatts to the national grid.While that may seem a drop in the ocean compared to the Government’s target of 1,000 megawatts by the year 2020, it will certainly come as a boost to the country’s industrialisation programme.Rwanda has a huge potential as far as energy is concerned, but the sector remains largely unexploited. Yet if the country is to fully realise its development agenda, more investments will be needed in the sector to ensure that we make the most of our energy resources.There is no doubt that after 17 years of relentless hard work, our economy gradually taking shape. But it’s only through increased FDIs and a more robust industrial base that the achievements registered so far can be consolidated, to serve as a springboard for further progress.Nonetheless, our own private sector will need to do more, to take bolder steps and make real investments. They will need to understand that they have the primary responsibility to mobilise resources and invest in these areas themselves, before anyone else does. And if they don’t, then they can be guaranteed of completely losing out once multinational corporations and other foreign firms take over.Agnes BirungiKigali

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Energy investments key to Rwanda’s development