Rwanda Energy Group (REG) continue to execute projects that are meant to transform people’s lives, boost economy by improving stable power supply for businesses and households The projects have been scaled up in the city of Kigali and others parts of the country with some completed in 2018 while others will be completed in 2019 according to Claver Gakwavu, the Director of Planning and Development at REG/EUCL. “There are so many projects in terms of increasing electricity generation, building transmission lines so as to ensure access and reliability of power supply to businesses and households. As the company invests in Generation transmission and access, the company is mindful of growing demand and positions itself to provide a reliable service today and in the future,” he said. He said that in order to reinforce power supply in Northern part of Rwanda Rulindo and Gifurwe substations were completed in 2018 to benefit areas of Rulindo, Gakenke, Gicumbi and Burera. Rulindo-Byumba-Gatuna was strengthened to reinforce power supply in Gicumbi and parts of Gatsibo while Rulindo-Gabiro-Musha and both substations of Gabiro and Musha are meant for improving power supply in Eastern province and benefit the areas of Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Gicumbi, Kayonza and parts of Rwamagana. Remera Switching Substation He said that Ndera substation targets to reinforce power supply in special economic zone, improve reliability of supply in Gasabo, Kicukiro and Eastern part of Rwanda. “The big demand area such as special economic zone can now be supplied by different substations and transmission lines from Kinyinya, Ndera, Birembo, Gasogi substations,” he said. There are also six 15kV switching substations in Kigali in Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge completed last year to improve reliability of power supply, provide flexibility in switching and reduce severity or impact of disturbances in terms of affected households or businesses. The 30kV link of Kanazi and Ntongwe feeders is to improve quality of supply in parts of Bugesera district while Mont Kigali substation (part of Kiagli ring project) targeted growing demand in Nyamirambo, Kicukiro, Kamonyi and Kanazi areas. The projects that are completed or will be completed in 2019 are quite many, he said, and went on to highlight a few which include 110/15kV Nzove substation Stabilize power supply in Nyabugogo and Nzove areas in the districts of Gasabo and Nyarugenge. There are also 11 switching substations to refine power supply in Kigali city in Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro districts which could be completed soon. “Kigali city has big population that is expected to increase and this requires enough electricity infrastructures that must go in line with the master plan implementation,” Gakwavu said stressing that upgrading of the networks for long-term sustainability will meet the current and future energy demand. Mobile Switching Substation Other critical projects across the country include upgrading of 6.6 to 30kV in Rubavu, projects to Stabilize power supply in Rubavu and substations and transmission lines in Bugesera to stabilize power supply in the area but also evacuation of Generation from Hakan among others. In terms of energy generation there are big power generation projects such as that of 80MW from peat plant that is being constructed by a Turkish company while Rusumo Hydropower plant that connects Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania could be completed in 2021. There is also RUSIZI III, another big project of 145 MW which is also shared between Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi. Currently, access to electricity in Rwanda is recorded at about 49.6% of the households, with 36% on-grid and 13.6% off-grid. Government has target to supply electricity to all Rwandans by 2024 under the national strategic plan for transformation of seven year-government programme.
