US$15 Million Deal to Boost Power Generation

{{A new Engergy investiment deal worth US$ 15Million is expected to boost Rwanda’s power generation capacity and thus significantly reduce energy importation.}}

This follows the signing of a power-purchase agreement (PPA) May 16, between the Energy, Water & Sanitation Authority (EWSA) and Renewable Energy for Accelerated Development Rwanda (REFAD) to develop and manage a hydro-power plant.

REFAD plans to design, finance, construct, and operate a hydro-power plant on Mushishito and Rukarara rivers in the Southern Province of 5MW with an estimated value of $15 million. The facility is expected to be completed within 26 months.

According to the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi; “For the fourth straight year, investment reached more than $680 million. Rwanda has predictable policies, which REFAD has taken advantage of, which will increasingly lead to increased private investments in the energy sector and eventually lead to growth in especially the manufacturing sector and job creation.”

The objective of the PPA is to increase power generating capacity, to lessen power import, to provide waterway access for local communities, to realize economic gains and to enhance development of renewable energy technologies.

The Infrastructure Minister Prof. Silas Lwakabamba noted that “It is therefore good to see this increasing involvement with REFAD’s investment.”

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