Kigali 28^th September, 2016 - The Minister of Infrastructure Honorable James MUSONI signed energy sector performance contract/IMIHIGO with the Board Chairman-Rwanda Energy Group, Prof. Manasse MBONYE. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of infrastructure-Kacyiru in bid to celebrate the 2015/16 sector achievements and lay strategy to implement 2016/17 sector projections.

According to the Minister James MUSONI, the Government of Rwanda has directed much effort and injected resources in the energy sector for a sustainable economic growth that has seen electricity access in Rwanda growing rapidly. With different programs and initiatives, grid connections through the government’s Electricity Access Roll-out Programme (EARP) and related initiatives have increased through both on-grid and off-grid solutions. 

Rwanda Energy group Board Chairman, Prof. Manasse MBONYE reaffirmed that, the generation capacity increased by 30MW after commissioning of 26MW Methane Gas Power Plant and other micro hydro power plants (4MW) which increased the installed capacity to 190 MW. This has addressed the current power demand with reliable and stable power to the customers.

The Government concluded negotiations and signed agreements with Independent Power Producers  such as 50MW Symbion  Methane Gas to power, 80MW Hakan Peat to Power, and regional projects such as; 80MW Rusumo and 147MW Rusizi III that are at advanced stages that will substantially increase the current installed capacity.

In rural electrification, additional 89,964 households were connected to the grid while 37,250 households to off grid in partnership with private sector players. The overall percentage connection for on grid is currently at 24.3% while off grid is 2.67%. 

In addition, 80,000 new connections including 1,451 in productive use areas are planned to be connected on grid while 255,363 households will be supplied with off-grid solutions translating into 40% access by June 2017.<s></s>