A delegation of senior officials from Nigeria has commended Rwanda for the strides it continues to make in expanding electricity access across the country. ALSO READ: Over 1.5m new households connected to electricity since 2017 – PM As part of their visit, the Nigerian delegation toured the Rwamagana Gigawatt Solar Power Plant, where they expressed appreciation for the technology that harnesses solar energy for electricity generation. The delegation comprising more than 30 high level managers was headed by Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology. Their discussions with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) focused on strengthening cooperation in the energy sector between Rwanda and Nigeria. ALSO READ: Rwanda secures over Rwf430 billion to scale up energy access Infrastructure minister Jimmy Gasore, together with senior leaders of REG led by CEO Armand Zingiro, hosted the officials from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) on five-day study visit. Minister Nnaji praised Rwanda for its achievements in advancing the energy sector, especially the access to electricity which stands at 85 percent, noting that collaboration between the two countries would be vital in boosting sustainable energy development. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.5bn to achieve universal energy access by 2029 He stressed the need for stronger partnerships to accelerate access to power. Nigeria produces more than 14,000MW and has a access rate of 66 percent, with a population of more than 260 million people. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged ideas on policy frameworks and strategic plans for sustainable energy development in Rwanda and Nigeria. Nigerian officials were particularly keen to learn how Rwanda has managed to expand electricity access to a large portion of its population in such a short time. CEO of REG, Armand Zingiro, highlighted that Rwanda’s success stemmed primarily from the government's strong political will to ensure every citizen has access to electricity. He added that the government invested heavily in the sector and worked closely with development partners to achieve rapid progress. Rwanda’s electricity generation capacity is set to increase from 406 MW to 556 MW. The discussions also touched on clean cooking solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. Rwanda showcased its ongoing campaigns mobilising citizens to shift from firewood and charcoal to cleaner alternatives of cooking such as gas, pellets, and electricity.
