The government will leverage an upcoming Kigali forum to attract investors and expertise in the energy and infrastructure sector, according to the head of the energy utility body.

Kigali will next week host the iPad Power and Infrastructure Investment Forum, which is expected to attract about 200 energy experts and investors from across the globe.

 During a media briefing yesterday, Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, the chief executive of Rwanda Energy Group, said this was an opportunity for government to pitch its infrastructure projects to investors.

 "It’s an opportunity for investors to see the reality but also for government to sell its potential and tap into the expertise that is coming with the forum,” Mugiraneza said.

"We, therefore, expect the investors to have an understanding of Rwanda’s energy sector and explore the potential within the sector. We are also looking at it in terms of capacity building given the number and the profile of various expatriates expected to come.”

According to Louise Kanyonga, head of investments promotion at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), energy is a very critical component for Rwanda’s economic development.

"We are keen and clearly understand the central role played by energy towards economic development of the country. Having key energy players gathering in Kigali is a huge opportunity that should be maximised,” Kanyonga said.

Opportunities for investors

Investors should take the opportunity of the growing need of energy and invest in the sector, she added.

"Rwanda is open to business. There are enormous investment opportunities in the country’s power and infrastructure sectors and government has proved that it can provide a stable and investor-friendly business climate”, Emmanuelle Nicholls, iPad Rwanda event director, said.

Nicholls said the event will attract more than 19 energy and construction companies from across the globe, including the US, Finland, Switzerland, UK, France, China, Nigeria, Turkey and South Africa.

The Forum will play an important role in the transformation of Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment and innovation, Nicholls, told The New Times.

There will also be an energy expo conducted during the two day forum, she added.

Ambassador James Kimonyo, the director of cabinet in the Office of Prime Minister, described iPad Rwanda Forum as an exclusive, intimate meeting which will provide "market entry for international investors, technology and solution providers to deliver a viable investment plan to increase power capacity in the country.”

According to the World Bank Doing Business Report 2015, Rwanda improved its indicator of access to electricity (from 79th last to 62nd this year out of the 189 surveyed countries globally.

However, the efforts to increase the country’s energy production from current 137MW to 563MW are ongoing.

The national power generation capacity is  expected to increase by 61.5MW by next year through projects such as Nyabarongo I (28MW), Kivuwatt 25MW, Gishoma Peat Plant (15MW) and Giggawatt Solar Power plant 8.5MW.