{{Hydropower plants developers in Rwanda have received training aimed at equipping them with financial and business skills.}}
The training focused mainly on helping the developers to understand costing and pricing; accurate records keeping, marketing and business management skills.
Other areas focused on during the training included off-grid distribution systems, health and safety, and quality standards.
Twenty developers attended and nine of them have tried and/or constructed pico hydro plants and are supplying around 200 households all over the country.
The training was launched by the Country Manager GVEP –Rwanda Mr Herbert Njiru Nyaga on March 31st and concluded April 5 in Muhanga district.
This training is completing the technical training that was organized and conducted by GIZ in September 2013 with the objective of equipping the developers with technical skills such as site identification, design, civil works, and basics of turbine design.
GVEP International is a non-profit organization that works to increase access to modern energy and reduce poverty in developing countries. GVEP is using an enterprise development approach to deliver longlasting change by helping markets and small energy businesses to grow, so that energy products and services can be delivered in increasing quantities and quality long after GVEP’s involvement is over.
This initiative is part of a larger programme “Capital Access for Renewable Energy Enterprises (CARE2)”, funded by the Swedish Government. It is designed to help energy businesses develop access capital and grow.
GVEP also supports other types of energy businesses such as improved institutional and domestic cook stoves, briquettes, and solar PV, hydropower and wind energy across East and West Africa.
At the end of the training the participants were capable of assessing the technical and economic feasibility of a pico-hydro site by:
– accurately determining the electricity demand and demand forecast at small scale
– Designing the distribution system and apply power quality concepts – losses calculations, cabling designing, choice of the materials ….
– estimating operation and maintenance costs and overall cost of the project
– formulating pricing and recognizing the revenue
– determining the cash flow and business plan
– identifying the risks associated with the project and risks management
– identifying partners in the project implementation and
– Assessing the environmental impact of the project
The participants appreciated the subjects discussed during the training and found them responding their needs in terms of business management and profitability.
For them the training will not only help them to manage well pico hydro project that they have or planning to construct, but the skills gained will also change the way they were used to do things as most if not all of them are in business since some years ago.
Among others, Distribution & costing / power quality / health and safety, Overall costing and bills of quantities and Economic feasibility and profitability were the most liked and interested subjects from the participants point of views with regard to how they found improvements to be made within their daily life as entrepreneurs.
Having had enough and strong technical skills; having got powerful tools and guidance for project management, operations and financing; the participants said to be ready to go on field and work on their Pico hydropower project and be able to light more and more lamps in their different villages all over the country and by then be able to reduce energy poverty as they grow in their businesses.
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