In the context of celebrating 60 years anniversary of friendly relations, Rwanda and Japan manifested their cooperation in the energy sector and how it is contributing to the former’s development.

On July 20, the Minister of Infrastructure, Ernest Nsabimana and Masahiro IMAI, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, visited Gasogi substation, one of the energy infrastructure projects supported by the Government of Japan under the bilateral cooperation. 

The event was also attended by over 100 stakeholders from both Rwanda and Japan, including MININFRA, REG, EUCL, EDCL, JICA, as well as the project’s consultant Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd. and the contractor Takaoka Engineering Co. Ltd.

Takaoka Engineering was represented by its President Mr. Akihiko ICHIKAWA, who travelled from Japan to attend the event.

The construction of Gasogi substation is at its completion phase and is expected to be fully completed and operational on July 31, 2022. 

Since 2011, the Japanese government has been supporting Rwanda’s energy sector to improve the quality of power supply and network reliability and stability, through a series of grants under a project dubbed "Improvement of Substation and Distribution Network”.

The project was implemented in three phases with a total cost of 7,308,000,000 Japanese Yens (approximately $67.4 million). 

The first phase started in 2011, consisting of a grant amounting JPY 2,454,000,000 (Approx. 18 Billion Rwf).

Under the project, three substations were rehabilitated in the City of Kigali (Birembo, Jabana and Gikondo) and two more in Eastern Province (Rwinkwavu and Musha).

It also upgraded the 17km distribution network in Huye District from 6.6kV to 30kV which strongly contributed to the improvement of the quality of power supply to a big number of Rwandans and reduction of power losses. 

The second phase which kicked off in 2016 entailed construction of Ndera substation as well as the Murindi and Kabuga power-switching stations, in Gasabo and Kicukiro Districts, City of Kigali.

The project also intended to enhance and encourage sustainable economic activities and in turn lower costs of doing business, while improving living standards. The project grants amounted to JPY 2,219,000,000 (Approx. 16.3 Billion RWF). 

The third phase of the funding was JPY 2,635,000,000 (then approx.19.3 Billion RWF). It consists of constructing a new 110/15kV substation with two power transformers of 10 MW each in Gasogi located in Ndera Sector, Gasabo District.

According to Ambassador IMAI, with completion of the third phase, the distribution network covering the entire Kigali City will be improved, and it will sufficiently respond to the rising demand for electricity.

This, he continued, will bring a positive impact not only on the economy but also education, welfare and health care, and should expedite the socio-economic development of the city of Kigali.

IMAI is aware that the stable supply and the effective use of electricity is important not only to achieve a stable social economy and sustainable growth, but also to make people’s daily life convenient.

"With this in mind,” he said; "Japan has been working on energy issues with different countries, focusing on stable power supply and better access to electric power.”

He added: "We are delighted by our long-term collaboration with Rwanda to achieve its development targets in the energy sector. I hope that the grants provided will greatly contribute to stabilizing power supply in Rwanda.”

Speaking after the visit to Gasogi Substation, Minister Nsabimana thanked the Government of Japan and the people of Japan for their continued cooperation in developing different areas of infrastructure, especially energy.

"These three consecutive projects have enabled us to stabilize our network and ensure the reliability of power supply, and it has also helped us to upgrade our existing networks to reduce technical power losses,” he said.

He added: "The cooperation between two countries is commendable. Today, almost 72 percent of Rwandans have access to electricity. The generation capacity is increasing and the network performance is improving. We are partnering with the Government of Japan to achieve our goal; have 100 percent by 2024. Let’s continue this cooperation towards achieving national goals, especially in the energy sector.”

In Rwanda, economic infrastructure development, including the energy sector, is one of the priority areas of Japan’s Development Cooperation Policy.

The Government of Japan declared its assistance for the improvement of power infrastructure in African countries through the process of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) which is an open forum where African countries, as well as international organizations, the private sector, and civil society, participate and discuss economic growth, development, and peace in Africa.

This year, Japan and Rwanda are not only celebrating the 60th Friendship Anniversary but also expecting to further strengthen the relationships through TICAD8, which will be held in August 2022.