Rwandas energy sector has gained another boost following the completion of a 40 megawatt station in Nyabihu district, which will serve six districts. The Nyabihu substation, which includes a 29km transmission line from Musanze District, was built by Chinese and Indian contractors at a cost of nearly Rwf15 billion. According to officials, the project falls in line with the governments target of universal access to electricity and will help reduce issues of power outages that are common in the Northern, Western and Southern provinces. At the inauguration of the power station on Saturday, July 9, Patricie Uwase, the State Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure, said the project was completed at the perfect timing as Rwanda celebrated the 28th anniversary of liberation. This project is a milestone and we are here to celebrate it, Uwase said. We believe that electricity is a major pillar of development activities. Another important thing we will get from this infrastructure is the reduction of electricity wastage. While Rwandas electrical energy waste stands at 19 percent, Uwase said more power stations are needed to reduce it to 15 percent in the coming years. Besides increasing power stations and transmission lines, Uwase said the government had started to phase out single-phase power systems, which are unfavourable for energy-consuming activities. Ron Weiss, the Chief Executive of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), said the Nyabihu substation would end problems caused by unstable power supply in the north-western part of the country. This substation has come at the right time to solve issues of power supply, power interruptions, voltage drops and fluctuations in different parts of Nyabihu, Musanze, Rubavu, Ngororero, Rutsiro and Muhanga districts, Weiss said. As we are pushing to ensure 100 percent access to electricity to all citizens by 2024, it is also important to ensure the continuity of stable and reliable power supply to our customers. He added all the districts were supplied by Gisenyi feeder -- a 700km line from Musanze -- which was too long to supply power without interruptions and voltage drops. According to REG, about 72 percent of Rwandan households are connected to electricity, either on the national grid or with off-grid power sources. Inauguration of Nyabihu substation (110kV-30kV) together with the 110kV transmission line linking it with Mukungwa I hydropower plant. Inauguration of Nyabihu substation (110kV-30kV) together with the 110kV transmission line linking it with Mukungwa I hydropower plant.
