Rwanda Revealed Its Latest $300 Million Clean Energy Initiative

Posted on : Wednesday , 31st January 2024

On January 11, the Lower Chamber of Parliament endorsed a regulation ratifying a $300 million (approx. Rwf380 billion) supporting understanding intended to subsidize a sustainable and eco-friendly energy project in the country.

The deal was signed among Rwanda and the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), on December 14, 2023, in Kigali.

As per the Service of Money and Monetary Preparation (MINECOFIN), the reception of the supporting understanding by Parliament is "a vital stage toward general admittance to power."

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Uzziel Ndagijimana, let legislators know that the funding comprises of two credits, of which $200 million will be taken care of in the span of 40 years that are counted following 10 years [of grace period], while $100 million will be repaid in something like five years counted following a six-year grace period.

“Both loans are interest-free,” Ndagijimana said.

He showed that the subsidizing would increment power access, fortify transmission organizations and grow clean cooking arrangements, without the utilization of kindling.

North of 420,000 households to get to power under the project

The supporting referenced above will finance the "Speeding up Practical and Clean Energy Access Change Rwanda (Climb)" project which expects to extend [electricity] matrix admittance to more than 420,000 families.

The project has a time span of five years (2024-2029). It will cover the districts of Gisagara, Huye, Muhanga, Nyamagabe, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Ruhango, Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Rwamagana, and some other qualifying districts, according to information from MINECOFIN.

Clean cooking solutions for 100,000 households.

The task additionally looks to empower the utilization of energy or fuel other than firewood, in accordance with environmental assurance.

Clean cooking solutions considered under the project incorporate electric, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other other renewable technologies like solar.

Eligibility reaches out to both urban and rural households, with an initial spotlight on progressing urban households to current cooking arrangements. It is normal that an expected 100,000 families will get to these administrations.

Further developing transmission organization, power supply reliability.

It is estimated that the project will build 77 km of transmission lines.

A boost towards universal energy access.

Upon finish, the project is supposed to add to a 91 percent power access rate in the country, with 70% associated with the matrix while 21% will be off-grid, according to information from MINECOFIN.

As of the October of end 2023, 74.74 percent of Rwandan families approached energy, with 53.79 percent of them associated with the national grid and 20.95 percent getting to it through off-network frameworks (mainly solar), as per information from Rwanda Energy Group (REG).