EWSA targets Rwf57b

Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA says its revenues will jump to Rwf57b this year form Rwf51b in 2010 on account of increased operations and improved services. The authority, which was until a recent cabinet decision called RECO/RWASCO, said in a report that it plans to accelerate water and electricity provision across the country. Mark Rukata, the Director of Operations at RECO/RWASCO, told Business Times in an interview that the body completed important constructions aimed at increasing both electricity and water availability which include Rugezi micro hydropower plant with a capacity of 2.2MW. “We also added 15,000m3 on the Nsonve dam through which over 82,000m3 of water is pumped daily,” Rukata said. “We expect 20MW thermo dam to be concluded soon; it is funded by the government and waiting commissioning.” The report indicates that 205 projects related to network extension and rehabilitations were completed countrywide last year, costing over Rwf1.2b. The authority is speeding up studies of several retaining dam to satisfy residents of Nyanza and Ruhango Bishya and Mpanga. Statistics show that electricity supply in the country surged to 331,076,795 KWh in 2010 from 307,789,939 KWh in 2009, whereas consumers increased by 23.9 percent to 179,562 users from 142,497. Much work, according to the report, was in the countryside, in line with government’s rural electrification programme. The authority targets to complete at least 10,000 low voltage connections in each of the country’s provinces. To achieve this, Rukata said, they repaired various power plants, including the Murunda Hydro power plant which provides 0.1MW, as well as Jabana and Rukarara power plants with 20.5MW and 6MW respectively. In addition, micro power plants at Agatobwe, Mutobo and Nyamyotsi II are under construction and will provide a combined 5.7MW. Management also banks on the methane gas project in L. Kivu as well as Rusizi III and Rusumo hydropower dams. The methane gas project is expected to produce 100MW while Rusizi III and Rusumo hydropower dams will produce 145MW and 62 MW respectively. Ends

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EWSA targets Rwf57b