Over 200 infrastructure investors for Kigali forum

Rwanda will on Thursday host the second edition of iPAD Rwanda Power and Infrastructure Investment Forum. The forum is a platform for private investors, project developers, consultants, technology and solution providers and financiers looking for opportunities in Rwanda’s energy, infrastructure and mining sectors.

Sunday, November 01, 2015
Technicians install solar panels. The annual iPAD forum aims at showcasing investment opportunities in Rwanda's infrastructure sector. (Net photo)

Rwanda will on Thursday host the second edition of iPAD Rwanda Power and Infrastructure Investment Forum.

The forum is a platform for private investors, project developers, consultants, technology and solution providers and financiers looking for opportunities in Rwanda’s energy, infrastructure and mining sectors. 

The conference is expected to attract over 200 regional and international investors and power experts, the organisers said in a statement. It is scheduled for November 5-6 in Kigali.

Roundtable discussions

During the two-day meeting, there will be roundtable discussions between representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as business-to-business engagements.

"Discussions will focus on procuring power projects in Rwanda, hydropower, off-grid opportunities, methane gas-to-power, waste-to-power, geothermal and peat, power purchase agreements and transmission and distribution, the event organisers said.

James Musoni, the Minister for Infrastructure, will deliver the keynote address on the topic "Boosting private investment for national infrastructure and industrial developments” at the event supported by government and sponsored by Symbion Power, a US-based power developer. Other sponsors are STEG International Services, KCB Bank and Spedag Interfreight.

Symbion has a deal to develop a 50MW independent power production (IPP) gas-to-power project using methane gas from Lake Kivu.

The firm’s CEO, Paul Hinks, said they are currently finalising the Power Purchase and Concession Agreements with the government of Rwanda.

"We hope to soon sign these key contracts with the government which will enable us to begin the next phase of project implementation,” he said.

Site visit

Delegates will visit the Gigawatt utility-scale PV solar plant in Rwamagana District , the first large-scale solar field in East Africa that is now providing approximately 6 per cent of Rwanda’s generation capacity.

The iPAD Rwanda Power and Infrastructure Investment Forum is organised by Spintelligent, a Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events, based in the UK.

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