Intermittent electricity supply has continued to affect a number of services, small factories’ performance and households in many parts of the country. Rwanda Energy Group (REG) says power failure has resulted from increased number of consumers that have surpassed REG’s capacity to generate and distribute electricity, but, they say, are hatching plans to pragmatically address the challenge.
Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, Rwanda Energy Group Limited Chief Executive Officer, told IGIHE that issues of power load-shedding are being addressed, adding that some industries established in Bugesera district without proper planning are among causes of electricity shortage in the district.
He said “New unplanned industries were built in Bugesera district and created a mismatch between generation, distribution and consumption.”
Seven factories have recently been completed in Bugesera district including industries producing sanitary paper, leather products, soft drinks, steel milling and maize milling factories.
Mugiraneza said that some substations were not upgraded yet their hinterlands and number of consumers were increased. He pointed out former Umutara region which is supplied by Kabarondo substation which serves an increased number of consumers in the Eastern Province.
He revealed a plan to renovate Mont Kigali substation which extends electricity distribution to some parts of Bugesera. Plans to establish new substations in Eastern Province are also underway, with renovation of Mont Kigali substation to have been completed by the end of this year. Much effort has, too, been directed towards renovation of old infrastructures.
Mugiraneza said that renovation activities will continue in Kigali city and construct new substations in various localities including Special Economic Zone region.
Rwanda targets to generate and distribute 563MW from the current 186Mw, and connect 70% of households by the year 2018.
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