Rwanda has commissioned the Nyabarongo hydropower plant power to reduce the government’s monthly expenditures on diesel fuel from approximately US$12.9mn to US$7.4mn
The project, developed by Angelique International and Bharat Heavy Electricals of India (BHEL), is the largest hydroelectric facility in the African country of 11.8mn people.
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, said, “Our country is not developed enough partly because we do not have enough power. We want to do everything we can to ensure that the country has enough electricity.
Power from the Nyabarongo project will increase the electricity production capacity of Rwanda’s national grid from 110MW to 160MW or about 18 per cent to the country’s energy sector.
The government seeks to produce 563MW by 2017 and have 70 per cent of the population connected to electricity, up from the current 17 per cent. The current total power generation stands at 160MW, added Kagame.
Kagame added that the government wants to extend access to power to as many Rwandans as possible – to every school, hospital and industry for maximised development.
