Rwanda Energy Group (REG) is still investigating what triggered the power outage that left most parts of the country in darkness on the night of Sunday. November 9, The New Times has learnt. ALSO READ: RURA announces new electricity tariffs: Here is what we know The blackout, which stretched from Eastern to the Western provinces, disrupted businesses and homes for hours and was experienced even beyond Rwanda’s borders, REG officials said. In some parts, residents said the power was restored after three hours. Geoffrey Zawadi, Director of Human Resources at REG, said preliminary findings indicate the disturbance originated from interconnection lines that also affected neighboring countries. He noted that the power utility’s technical teams are carrying out deeper investigations into the exact cause of the blackout. ALSO READ: Energy utility announces end to power rationing Asked whether the unannounced outages were caused by maintenance works on electricity infrastructure, Zawadi said no such works were ongoing at the time of the incident. He explained that REG conducts regular maintenance to strengthen the grid and ensure a reliable electricity supply, describing it as a routine exercise that is always communicated to the public in advance. “The decision to repair multiple power lines at once is a standard practice in every electricity network. Just as the human body requires regular detoxification to function optimally, our electricity network also needs periodic upgrades and maintenance to operate efficiently,” he said. ALSO READ: Electricity tariffs set to be reviewed for first time in 5 years He added that no specific maintenance project was responsible for the November 9 outage. Planned maintenance and upcoming outages REG said on Monday that its personnel are carrying out planned maintenance works in different parts of Kigali, including the Kinyinya electricity line, where repairs are ongoing on the Meridien pumping branch connected to the Portofino Cabin. The works will temporarily interrupt power in some parts of Gacuriro, Nyarutarama, and Kamatamu this week as technicians replace damaged components. A similar exercise is also being conducted along the Mashyuza-Kigali South electricity line, where the NHV branch sustained damage during maintenance on the Mashyuza feeder. Zawadi confirmed that REG has put in place a short-term power rationing plan to address temporary shortages as it balances supply and demand. “This plan involves coordinated outages across different branches to ensure stability and affected areas are notified ahead of time, and we are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. In Rusizi District, residents described how the blackout disrupted their night. Xavera Bayavuge from Rwimbogo Sector said the power went off for nearly three hours, noting that when it was restored, the voltage fluctuations damaged some home appliances. In Mahama Sector, Kirehe District, Claudine Nyirabazungu recalled that lights went out at around 8.00 p.m. as families were preparing to sleep. “It was sudden, and the whole area was dark. Power was restored in three hours and has been stable since then,” she said on Monday afternoon. ALSO READ: Kigali to enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply - REG chief As REG technicians continue to assess what exactly triggered the November 9 outage, Nyirabazungu said she was hoping the findings would help prevent a recurrence and strengthen the country’s power reliability in the long run.
