fi nancial commitments. As Rwanda and other
African countries embrace this development
through the ISA, the distribution of funds
has become of great importance in the
progression of this solar project. In Rwanda
today, an 8.5-megawatt solar power plant
has been set up in Rwamagana and used to
stabilise daytime power supply in the Eastern
Province. This shows that more can be done
in other parts of Rwanda.
Also, the progression of the sustainable
development goals (SDG) has long adopted
the need to fi ght climate change around the
world as a principle factor. Championing
this goal, the ISA is striving to achieve a
global transition to sustainable renewable
energy. While yet fi ghting poverty as a SDG
priority, the need to adopt affordable, clean
and sustainable energy has become the anchor
of ISA’s objective in Rwanda. In fi nding
the perfect balance between climate goals
and social cohesion, SDGs will be more
progressive.
Until 2004, Rwanda depended on a single
energy source – hydropower, whose limited
capacity relied on a dilapidated network with
technical and commercial losses of around
30 percent, much of which is attributed to
the lack of investment in the sector for many
years. Rwanda’s energy balance showed
that about 85 percent of its overall primary
energy consumption is based on biomass
(99 percent of all households use biomass
for cooking), 11 percent from petroleum
products (transport, electricity generation
and industrial use) and 4 percent from hydro
sources for electricity. In April 2011, about 14
percent of the total population had access to
electricity from the grid and the government
started a roll-out programme to rapidly
increase this to 60 percent by 2020.
Electric power is a driving force of
economic development in the 21st century.
Therefore, the shortage of power supply will
seriously affect the healthy development of
any economy and can cause large economic
losses. With the stabilisation of power
through solar technology, Rwanda will be
set on a platform for continuous development
in all of its sectors. This will mean a better
lifestyle for its citizens, especially in the
rural areas.
With the stabilisation
of power through
solar technology,
Rwanda will be
set on a platform
for continuous
development in all
of its sectors. This
will mean a better
lifestyle for its
citizens, especially in
the rural areas.
With the stabilisation of power in
Rwanda’s rural areas, the need to travel
to urban areas to use services powered by
electricity will be reduced. The stress put
on resources that are only available in urban
areas will be reduced, as government services
and economic activities will make their way to
the rural areas. There will be more economic
activities starting up in the rural areas which
will attract more economic development
and even investors. There will also be less
need to burn bio-fuel which contributes to
global carbon emissions. Information and
communication technology will be easily
accessible in the rural areas, giving rise to
better communication, healthcare services,
education, agricultural processing, and
tourism. This cycle of development shows
the power of electricity in a society.
H o w e v e r, a s P r e s i d e n t K a g a m e
highlighted in his inauguration speech,
the billions of dollars needed for future
global solar investments will not be sourced
from governments alone. He further
encourages public-private partnership with
his government. Al so, the ISA’s effort to
reduce credit risk in solar energy distribution
is a strategic message to the market that solar
energy is a viable business. And though solar
power may not address all of Africa’s needs,
its contribution to Africa’s energy mix is of
great importance.
* The author is Researcher, Security &
Policy Advisor
2018 • RWANDA • 19