Nyabarongo dam reservoir is planned to host floating solar panels with a potential capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) to boost clean energy generation, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva told Parliament on July 9.

The Nyabarongo II Hydropower Plant is a $214 million project financed by the Government of Rwanda and Export Import Bank of China. The project which touched on the districts of Nyarugenge, Rulindo, Gakenke, Muhanga, Kamonyi, Nyabihu, Ngororero and Musanze, has reached 70 per cent completion.

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"So far, our electricity supply still faces challenges because we depend partly on energy imports from neighbouring countries. That is why we are implementing major projects to increase generation capacity, including methane gas, Nyabarongo II, and others," he said.

"Nyabarongo II will provide 43.5MW of hydropower. Because Nyabarongo is a multipurpose project, the lake that will stretch until the Vunga area [in Gakenke District] will have floating solar panels installed on the water surface to generate 200MW,” he said.

Rwanda's electricity generation capacity has increased from 406MW in 2024 to 471MW in 2026.

"The target is to reach 615MW by 2029,” he said, adding that the Nyabarongo II floating solar photovoltaic project will play a significant role in achieving this target.

Besides the Nyabarongo II Hydropower Project, which is expected to generate 43.5MW in 2027, the Rusizi III Hydropower Project will generate 206MW, while the methane gas-to-power project from Lake Kivu is expected to generate 185MW by 2030.

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MP Gallican Niyongana called for additional measures to ensure Rwanda has sufficient electricity to meet rising demand and achieve universal access.

"Some 15 cells do not have electricity. Even in some areas that have electricity, the supply is not strong enough to power businesses and households,” he said.

In response, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva said households are allowed to install solar power systems and sell surplus electricity to the national grid.

He added that, with increased electricity generation capacity, the remaining 15 cells without electricity will be connected by 2029 under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).

MP Erneste Nsangabandi also called for measures to address rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth and the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

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Rwanda is seeking to mobilise $1 billion in private investment as part of a $3 billion plan to double electricity generation capacity and achieve universal energy access.

The plan targets increasing Rwanda’s installed electricity generation capacity to 1,066MW while ensuring universal electricity access by 2030.

Cooking gas

Prime Minister Nsengiyumva said the Government has launched the Gasmeth project to process gas into compressed natural gas (CNG) from Lake Kivu in a bid to increase energy availability while protecting the environment by reducing reliance on firewood.

The project is expected provide cooking gas and support the transport sector and industries.

As part of efforts to achieve energy self-sufficiency, the Prime Minister said the government has started preparations to generate electricity from nuclear energy.

"Currently, the necessary requirements are being developed to enable the project to begin implementation,” he said.