Wider electricity rollout augurs well for development

Government, through the Electricity Access Rollout Project (EARP) embarked on a campaign to increase electricity supply across the country, with the focus on the rural areas. In its second year, countrywide power connections have more than doubled to reach 225,000. Providing electricity is an important step towards achieving the country’s economic development, as reliable energy is vital for both local and foreign investors. It is a very commendable move that the distribution of the electricity does not only focus on urban areas, but addresses the energy needs of the rural population and going by the accounts of the beneficiaries and how their lives have been transformed, it is a worthwhile investment. This very ambitious initiative, that projects, at its closure towards the end of next year, to have at least 350,000 connections across the country, will greatly impact the lives of the Rwandan people. Incentives by government, whereby households meet only 10 percent of the connectivity cost should not be taken for granted, but rather in good faith, mainly by jealously guarding this invaluable infrastructure. Other alternative sources of energy like solar and biogas should beembraced, as well as encouraging public-private partnerships to significantly increase energy output. Ends

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Wider electricity rollout augurs well for development