Kigali, 28th October 2014-The government is set to import power from neighboring countries to increase its energy to 563MW.

The country will be importing 30MW from Kenya by 2015.

The current domestic installed capacity is 122.6 MW, targeting 563MW by 2017.

Contracts has been signed to upgrade substations and power lines to accommodate the extra over 150 MW from Kenya and developing a second circuit of 220KVA that will be able to import over 400MW once completed

The national power generation capacity is expected to increase by68 MW by 2015, when projects, such as Nyabarongo I (28MW) currently on grid, Kivuwatt 25MW, Gishoma Peat Plant (15MW).

The government is encouraging private sector involvement to promote country’s energy capacity to lower the cost of doing business in Rwanda as access to affordable energy is critical for investment and economic development

Rwanda has an ambition to invest more in renewable energy, such as bio-gas and solar energy not only for these living far from the grid but for efficiency and increased use of green economy. These initiatives will be a game-changer in terms of cost and access to power.

A number of initiatives are under way to attract the privet sect to be a backbone of the energy sector development and country development. Private sector is actively involved in hydro power development, peat to power, solar energy both on grid and off grid but also in biogas and improved cook stove technology development

Government allocated resources for the construction of transmission lines, for the electricity rollout programme, and geothermal resources development in this year’s national budget and will continue these efforts with its developmental partners, civil society and all Rwandan to realize its targets achieved.