Supply of energy, especially in the rural areas, still has a long way to go. The Ministry of Infrastructure, with the help of the Belgian Cooperation, is trying to find remedies.

According to Erik Van Malderen, the co-manager of the Rural Energy Project (REP) run jointly by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), Rwanda is one of the least electrified countries in Africa if not the last.

Currently less than 5% of Rwandans have access to electricity, a situation which is likely to undermine the development course that the Rwanda has taken.

Van Malderen explains that the REP focuses specifically, as its name indicates, to find solutions through energy projects in the rural areas. "With the current cost of electricity, it is hard for the rural people to afford it," he says.

One of the solutions is to use micro and mini hydro-electric plants, which can power a unit such as a hospital or a factory, a group of buildings or even a village. In this respect, BTC has already indentified some 400 sites where such plants could be installed.

BTC is also involved in power projects to increase the volume of available electricity which would lead decreasing the current high cost as well as making more power available to the rural communities.

In doing so, REP expects to increase the current beneficiaries from 77,000 people (4%) to 200,000 (10%) by 2012, in line with Rwanda Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), which programs an increase in electricity production capacity from the current 44 MW to 120 MW in 2011.

It is also expected that the electricity cost can be reduced by 50%, amongst others by minimising technical and commercial losses of existing networks and promoting rational and efficient utilisation of electric energy.

In general, by providing rural population with electricity, the project seeks to contribute to strengthened social and economic development of the population. The energy sub-sector contributes significantly to the social and economic sustainable growth and to poverty reduction.

More specifically, the project aims to achieve improved sustainable access both in time and space to environment friendly electricity.

Attracting professionals

Nkora micro hydroelectricity production unit is a good example of how such small power plants can contribute to the improvement of community-based social services such as education and health in support to the local economic initiatives.

For instance, thanks to the plant local health facilities will be able to keep vaccines and drugs, or carry out night childbirths and emergency surgical interventions.

Furthermore, it will increase the potential for rural zones to attract different categories of professionals such as health practitioners, teachers, private entrepreneurs as well as investors.

The Nkora project (680kW) is only one component of a larger REP program for Western Province. The construction of this micro-hydroelectricity production unit will be carried out concurrently those in Cyimbili (350kW) and Keya (2,100kW) located further south.

The program plans to connect these three units to the average voltage network of 21 km which will, in turn, be connected to the national grid. Thus, the supply of electricity to rural centers in Rutsiro and Rubavu Districts will be completed.

Another component of REP is the Rural Electricity Extension through Renewable Energy Project, which seeks to provide rural populations of Nyaruguru District, Southern Province, with relatively low-cost electricity generated through renewable resources.

The objective of the project is to produce low-cost electricity, distributing it to rural population and feeding it into the national grid during off-peak consumption periods. The project produces relatively cheap electricity by using locally available and renewable resources (hydroelectricity, solar and wind energy).

Hospitals

This electricity will be available to the local population and to health facilities of Nyaruguru District. Furthermore, the project plans the construction of a high voltage line for interconnection of production sites as well as a low voltage one to feed rural centres.

The connection of micro-hydroelectricity production units to the national grid will boost the output of the network during periods of low rural consumption.

The first year of the project has been dedicated to feasibility and implementation studies for micro-hydroelectricity production units and average and low voltage power network in Nyaruguru District.

The project is still at the start-up stage, with a request for proposals for feasibility and implementation studies for the micro-hydroelectricity production units and distribution network in Nyaruguru District having been submitted to the National Tender Board.

Another project that is being finalized intends to provide all health centres with low cost electricity. So far, a team of technicians has been undergoing training to carry out the planned power needs assessment of health centres and hospitals.

An additional study for the electricity extension to Rutsiro District, Western Province, was also carried out. The tender for provision of solar and wind energy to health centres and hospitals will be put out in the middle of 2008 after completion of preliminary studies.

The project further proposes to provide institutional support to national and regional agencies involved in energy sector.