Author: IGIHE

{Kt Rwanda Networks (KtRN) has commissioned a Telecom Tower that runs on Solar Energy in line with government’s targets toward off-grid solutions. The Telecom Tower launched on Monday, is located in Gacuriro, a suburb of Kigali, and is running on immense solar panels that provide backup electricity for up to 36 hours.}

The objective is to provide solution for the power cuts in Kigali in order to provide a constant 4G LTE Network. KtRN CEO said this system is an environmental friendly solution that will help in providing very stable power supply which has a direct impact on the level of service in telecom business.

Off-grid is a system and lifestyle designed to help people function without the support of remote infrastructure, such as an electrical grid. In electricity, off-grid can be stand-alone power systems or mini-grids typically to provide a small community with electricity.

KtRN’s Off-Grid Solar Solution is a type of Electricity Generated by Solar Panels that charges big batteries and this electricity can be used in the absence of grid power or during daytime to reduce bill of Electricity.

KtRN is commonly known as the provider of 4G LTE Internet (Fourth Generation Long-Term Evolution) and 62% of Rwandans currently have access to the superfast internet with the target to reach 95% by 2017.

{{Government energy targets}}

The Government of Rwanda encourages the population to use clean energy like solar energy especially in areas which are yet to be connected to the national grid.

Currently, 31% of Rwandans have access to electricity with 28% on-grid while 3% use off-grid solutions. The Government’s target is to provide electricity access with 70% of Rwandans (48% on-grid and 22% off-grid) by the year 2018. In order to realize the 22% off-grid target, Government has so far entered into partnership with 24 dealers in off-grid solutions while the fastest ever grid expansion is ongoing to see 48% realized too.

Solar energy systems present a range of benefits as being environmental friendly with Zero Carbon Emission, Low operation and Maintenance Cost, Long Lifespan up to 25 years, Real-time Monitoring and Control as well as generating Stable and Sufficient Electricity.

KtRN is the sole 4G LTE infrastructure company in Rwanda, jointly invested by the Government of Rwanda and Kt Corporation exclusively for wholesale provision of universal mobile broadband services in Rwanda using 4G LTE technology. The wholesale mobile broadband network aims to accelerate the availability of high-speed connectivity in collaboration with retail partners that provide end-user services and solutions to consumers, enterprises and the nation in general in line with the country’s vision to be an ICT hub.

By Jean d’Amour Mugabo

{Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) have reacted to the recent 2016 Auditor General’s report which accuses both institutions of mismanaging materials worth Rwf 15.2 billion. }

The CEO of WASAC, James Sano appearing before parliament yesterday explained that some of the queries raised in the Auditor General’s report have already been addressed.

As the officials appeared before parliament to defend their budgetary proposals, they were made to respond to the queries of keeping some equipment idle in stores.

“Commenting on Auditor General’s report, at first WASAC stored materials whose value was beyond Rwf 10 billion but have since been utilized leaving material worth Rwf1 billion which is an indication of good progress in putting the said material to proper use,” he said.

Sano explained that most of the stored materials worth Rwf 1.3 billion were left after completing big projects while others were kept in stores to be used in cases of emergencies and or crises.

Commenting on the performance of the Corporation, he explained that non-revenue water was reduced from 42% to 35% and plan to reduce it further to 25% in the 2017/2018 budget.

The CEO of REG, Jean Bosco Mugiraneza also explained that the situation changed after the audit was carried last year.

“We have agreements with various institutions in the country and abroad that store materials from who receive when we need to use the materials,” he said.

“At the time of making the audit we had stored materials which we no longer wanted. We later sold them through public auction and we are continuing to do so,” he added.

According to the report presented last week WASAC was reported to have a store filled with unused materials or rarely used worth Rwf 1.3 billion and two water treatment plants in Nyagatare worth Rwf 1.7 billion which have been not operational for a year. These add to reported unused Rwf 1.5 billion and Rwf 2.7 billion worth of water reservoirs at Kalisimbi under a Geothermal project which have been unused for three years.

{The African Union’s Executive Council and Permanent Representatives Committee convened in Kigali in Rwanda convened for a one day consultative meeting on reforms focusing on the financial independence of the organisation and the institutional reforms that were proposed at the retreat of the Assembly of the African Union.}

Rwanda President Paul Kagame has called on AU member state to ensure that the union gets sustainable and predictable financing by taking full ownership of the organisation’s budget.

Kagame says time has come for Africa to take full responsibility of its development programs and activities and stop depending on external financing from partners and donors.

He said the AU has to take action now to ensure that they begin to finance their own budget without relying on external funding which he noted comes with conditions that could be unbearable for African countries.

President Kagame noted that external financing which the AU has been relying on is responsible for external interference from international donors.

He was speaking in Kigali at the African Foreign Ministers’ Consultative Meeting which was held to discuss the implementation of African Union Reforms.

The year 2017 should be considered by all member states of the AU as a year of transition from dependency to ownership of programs and activities of the Union because no continent or country can give peace, prosperity or independence to Africa but Africa itself, he told the meeting.

The Rwandese leader further urged African leaders to learn from his country ‘s undertaking of drastic measures to overcome misery which befell them following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi without waiting for external assistance.

“The Rwanda you see today is not a miracle but a result of handwork and strong resolve to never go back. First we had to overcome the mindsets and cultivated a positive attitude in our people to get to where we are today.

” Let’s not waste opportunities to learn lessons and apply what we have learnt,” President Kagame stated.

He said it takes positive attitude, transformed mindset and handwork to transform the situation such as embarking on reforms in the AU which is the core business of the meeting.

In July 2016, at the 27th African Union Summit, member States of the AU entrusted President Paul Kagame of Rwanda with the mandate to lead the African Union reforms to enable the continental body meet its mission’s goal and truly serve African citizens. In January 2017, the proposed reforms were adopted by all Heads of State and Governments.

The consultative meeting interacted by giving participants time to contribute to the debate and decided on how some key reforms be implemented.

The leaders deliberated on how to make Africa speaks with one voice and better manages its partnership with the rest of the world and unanimously spoke on the need for Africa to implement measure that would enable Africa itself to finance the African Union activities to ensure sustainability.

Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba was among the 54 foreign ministers from all African countries as well as all African ambassadors accredited to the African Union who met to discuss the way forward to the implementation of these reforms.

In an exclusive interview with ZANIS in Kigali, Mr. Kalaba said the meeting was an opportunity to engage with Africa’s top diplomats and others present, on the foreseen impact of the reforms on the continent.

The Minister stated that the consultative meeting further provided the opportunity for Ministers and other delegates to contribute to the reforms and to fine tune what President Kagame and his team has prepared after he was tasked by the African body.

The Minister attended the meeting with his Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to Tanzania Benson Chali.

[Kagame advises Africa to use Rwanda’s speedy development approach->https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/05/08/kagame-advises-africa-use-rwandas-speedy-development-approach/]

Source:Lusaka Times

{Rwanda is the world’s largest producer of tantalum, accounting for over one-third of the mineral traded on the international market, according to the latest Minerals Commodity Summaries published by the United States Geological Survey.}

Rwanda accounted for about 37 per cent of the global tantalum production while DR Congo accounted for about 32 per cent in 2015, the survey indicates.

Tantalum is an essential mineral for electronics industries in the manufacture of capacitors, high-power resistors, jet engines and missile components.

The total value of tantalum produced in 2016 was over $290 million, according to the survey.

Rwanda also produces a quarter of the world’s niobium, a mineral used by over 80 per cent of the world’s steel industries to strengthen their steel products.

It also states that Rwanda was 7th and 12th biggest exporter of tungsten and tin ores, respectively.

Rwanda has been positioning itself to become a significant player on the global mining scene, although it is still bogged down by exportation of unprocessed minerals that attract low prices.

The mining sector is Kigali’s second-largest foreign currency earner, after tourism.

“The world now recognises that we are a major producer of a very important mineral,” said Jean Malic Kalima, president of the Rwanda Mining Association. “By joining the international study centre, we will broaden our market base and work more closely with tantalum experts, in a bid to boost the value and volume of our exports.”

Prices of tantalum have been falling over the past five years. Whereas a kilogramme cost about $280 in 2012, it halved to $124 per kilogramme in January 2017. Rwanda produced 410 tonnes of tantalum in 2015.

Coupled with significant price drops for other principle minerals (tin and wolfram), revenues from Rwanda’s mineral exports fell from $226 million in 2013 to $206 million in 2014 and $150 million in 2015.

They climbed a bit for the for first time in three years to $166.4 million last year, owing largely to the exportation of non-principle minerals, which collected have of those revenues.

Of Rwanda’s three principal minerals, tantalum collected the most revenues last year – with $39.7 million from the export of 1,270 tonnes.

Source:The East African

{The Minister of Local Government, Francis Kaboneka has requested voters to be cautious with presidential aspirants soliciting signatures qualifying them to register their candidature. }

Kaboneka made the call on Friday in a consultative meeting that brought together local government officials in Eastern Province on theme; ‘Let’s promote good governance, upholding achievements, offering good services’.

“We are getting closer to elections. Some candidates will come soliciting your signatures. You have to be cautious,” he said.

The governor of Eastern Province, Judith Mukazayire also asked residents to be well prepared for upcoming elections urging local leaders to mobilize voters into getting all requirements enabling participation in elections.

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced last week that independent presidential aspirants should start soliciting for 600 signatures countrywide as required by law.

The NEC executive secretary, Charles Munyaneza unveiled that contenders are left with few days to solicit for the signatures of supporters saying it is required to make the list one month or 30 days before registering for candidature according to regulations.

Presidential polls in Rwanda are slated for 4th August 2017 inside the country and 3rd August 2017 for Rwanda Diaspora.

{The Rwanda Development Board has announced an increase in the price of Gorilla Permits from US$ 750 to US $1,500 for all visitors effective immediately according to a statement from RDB released on Saturday. A new exclusive package for tourists who wish to book an entire family of gorillas was also introduced at US$ 15,000, and will receive exclusive personalized tour guide services.}

According to the statement, the price increase will not affect tourists who had already purchased their tickets at the time of this announcement.

Tourists who visit other national parks (Nyungwe and Akagera) for a minimum of three days, in addition to gorilla trekking will receive a discount of 30%. Similarly, conference tourists, who stay pre or post conference dates to see gorillas will be eligible for a 15% discount.

In line with Rwanda’s high-end tourism strategy, the price increase aims to strengthen conservation efforts and contribute more to the development of communities living around the Volcanoes National Park.

Along with the new tariff, the tourism revenue sharing rate for communities adjacent to the park, will also increase from 5% to 10%, which will quadruple the absolute revenues received by communities. Over the last 12 years, more than 400 community projects have been completed including hospitals, schools, business development centers and water supply systems to facilitate access to clean water. These projects directly benefit the people living around the parks.

Ms. Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at Rwanda Development Board said:“Gorilla trekking is a highly unique experience. We have raised the price of permits in order to ensure sustainability of conservation initiatives and enhance visitors’ experience. We also want to make sure that the communities living near the park area receive a bigger share of tourism revenues to fund development projects and empower them economically.”

New, high-end lodges are opening in Musanze and plans are underway to improve visitors’ experience at Kinigi, including renovation of the information center to equip it with modern offices and tourism services such as conservation education, children’s learning space as well as digital facilities.

Mountain gorillas are endangered species with only around 880 remaining in the world. Of those in the Virunga Massif, Rwanda accounts for 62% of the gorilla population. Stringent conservation measures have significantly contributed to a rise in gorilla numbers. There are currently 20 families habituated for tourism and research in Rwanda, up from just 9 families in 2010.