The Rwandan government has signed a power-purchase agreement with the Energy, Water & Sanitation Authority (EWSA) and Renewable Energy for Accelerated Development Rwanda (REFAD) to develop and manage a hydro-power plant
The objective of the agreement will be to increase power generating capacity, to lessen power import, to provide waterway access for local communities and enhance development of renewable energy technologies.
Infrastructure minister Silas Lwakabamba said, “To achieve our 80MW target by 2014, we need the private sector involved in the energy sector.”
As part of the agreement, REFAD will design, finance, construct, and operate a five mega watt hydro-power plant on the Mushishito and Rukarara rivers in the Southern Province with an estimated value of US$15mn. The facility will be expected to be completed within a period of 26 months.
Rwanda Development Board CEO Clare Akamanzi said, “Increased investments in the energy sector indicate the ongoing resilience of this emerging sector in the economy. For the fourth straight year, investment reached more than US$680mn.
“Rwanda has predictable policies, which REFAD has taken advantage of. It will increasingly lead to increased private investments in the energy sector and eventually lead to growth in especially the manufacturing sector and job creation.”
